URDC - VIT University

VIT
U N I V E R S I T Y
(Estd. u/s 3 of UGC Act 1956)
Vellore - 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(TERMS OF REFERENCE)
1 Establishment
1.1 The University Research and Development Committee (URDC) was established
on December 8, 2008 as per the decisions taken by the Research Advisory
Committee in its meeting dated July 25, 2008.
1.2 The University Research and Development Committee (URDC) is a standing
committee of the Academic Council.
2 Responsibilities
2.1 The URDC is responsible for assisting the Academic Council in the performance
of the Council’s responsibilities in respect of the establishment and promotion of
excellence in the university’s research and development, and academic and
research training activities. This includes the development, review and
monitoring of achievements under the Research Management Plan, and those
aspects of other university Plans which are central to the university’s research
and development activities.
2.2 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the URDC is responsible for
providing advice to the Academic Council in respect of the following Council
responsibilities as documented in the Council’s constitution:
2.2.1 The development and enhancement of the university’s research
capacities
2.2.2 The protection and commercialisation of the university’s intellectual
property
2.2.3 Consultancies
2.2.4 The provision of research and development opportunities for academic
staff to maintain enthusiasm, awareness of current scholarship and
relevance in teaching and other university activities
2.2.5 The development of infrastructure conducive to promoting the quality
and quantity of research and development
2.2.6 The establishment of research and development priorities; and
2.2.7 Monitoring in conjunction with School Research and Development
Committees (SRDC), the quality and quantity of school research and
development.
2.3 The URDC will undertake regular internal and external reviews, and provide
advice or make recommendations to the Academic Council.
2.4 The URDC has the following responsibilities delegated by the Council:
2.5 Disbursement of University Research Funds to established researchers, both
individually and in groups; including research infrastructure funds; higher degree
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y research candidates; seeding grants to beginning researchers; University-wide
research initiatives; and provision of consolidated information to the Academic
Council and other appropriate university bodies;
2.6 Monitor the application of University Research Funds to ensure that the funds are
properly and formally accounted for;
2.7 Promote promising new areas of research and development;
2.8 Development of mechanisms conducive to the best possible ways of engaging and
motivating research staff;
2.9 Ensure appropriate mechanisms for approval of the terms, associated costs, and
staffing arrangements of research and development grants and contracts to be
conducted at the University;
2.10 Monitor the research and development performance of individuals, groups,
Centres, Schools and Faculties to encourage excellence and productivity through
maintaining a database of research and development activities;
2.11 Review of University Research Centres and Institutes on a two-yearly basis;
2.12 Oversee the application of the Code of Academic and Research Ethics for the
responsible practise of research; and
2.13 Provide annual research reports from University Research Centres and Institutes
to the Council via the Research Advisory Committee, by April each year.
3 Membership
3.1 The membership of the URDC shall comprise the following categories and
numbers of members ex officio, elected or nominated as discussed in this section
and approved by the Chancellor of the university:
3.1.1 Chancellor - ex officio Special Invitee
3.1.2 Pro Chancellors - ex officio Special Invitees
3.1.3 Vice-Chancellor - ex officio Special Invitee
3.1.4 Pro Vice Chancellor - ex officio Special Invitee
3.1.5 Registrar - ex officio Special Invitee
3.1.6 Director, Academic Research - ex officio Chairman
3.1.7 All Directors - ex officio members;
3.1.8 Up to two persons* (from each school) who may or may not be members
of the Academic Council, nominated by the Chancellor, on the
recommendation of the Vice Chancellor.
*He / She should have Doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Sc, or Dr. Ing)
*He / She should have Research publications to his / her credit in refereed journals
4 Terms of Office
4.1 Members of the URDC other than ex officio members (“appointed members”)
serve for terms of up to two years.
4.2 An appointed member may be appointed to serve for additional terms provided
that such member may serve no more than two consecutive terms or a maximum
of four years continuously. Twelve months must elapse before such a person is
again eligible to serve on the URDC.
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5 Quorum
5.1 The quorum for meetings of the URDC shall be the nearest whole number above
one half of the membership of the URDC for the time being.
6 Rights of Audience and Debate
6.1 The Chancellor, Pro Chancellors, Vice Chancellor of the university may, at their
discretion, attend any or all meetings of the URDC, or parts of meetings of the
URDC with rights of audience and debate.
6.2 The Director, Academic Research has standing rights of audience and debate at
all meetings of the URDC.
6.3 The URDC may invite any person – whether from within, or external to, the
University – to attend specific meetings, or for specific items of a meeting, to
assist the URDC in its deliberations.
7 Meeting Schedule
7.1 The URDC will meet at least two times each year. The Chair is responsible for
determining if more meetings are required to enable the URDC to perform its
responsibilities.
8 Reporting
8.1 The URDC will report to the Academic Council and the Research Advisory
Committee of the university by way of its minutes; and by way of an executive
summary which accompanies the minutes, and draws attention to particular
issues or recommendations.
8.2 In the first quarter in any year, the URDC will submit to the Academic Council
through the Research Advisory Committee, an annual report on its activities in
the preceding 12 months. The annual report will
8.2.1 Include an assessment of the effectiveness of the URDC in fulfilling its
responsibilities defined in clause 2.2;
8.2.2 Advise the Academic Council on the continued appropriateness of the
provisions of the URDC’s constitution, and recommend any
amendments which the URDC believes desirable or necessary to
improve efficiency and effectiveness; and
8.2.3 Include a summary of the principal issues addressed by the URDC.
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