Strategic Vision - University of Leicester

8 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER · STRATEGIC VISION TO 2015Our ResearchThe University’s vision for research is to be one of the UK’s top ten institutions interms of research income per head. We are already in the top twenty by this measure,but acceleration into a more select group of universities will require a moredetermined strategy.The University must therefore:• achieve an outcome in RAE 2008 (published December2008), which confirms the validity of its aspirations (anational ranking between 20th and 30th is sought)• emphasise the requirement for all staff to seek the level offunding for research appropriate to their discipline, and todeliver maximum benefit through the dissemination oftheir findings• secure year-on-year increases in research grant and contractapplications, awards and income• significantly improve the ratio between research fundingapplications and approved awards through focusing onsubmission quality and applicability• utilise the College structure to develop detailed researchplans• isolate and promote research themes in whichunchallengeable excellence can be demonstrated• encourage and support applications for large awards forinterdisciplinary, collaborative and translational research,creating research centres and collaborative groups whenrequired• seek partnerships with other universities and agencies toenhance mutual capacity• strongly promote the commercialisation of research andknowledge transfer, including business partnerships,technology licences, spin-out companies and consultancies• direct funding to reward success, including thecontinuation of schemes such as New Blood lectureshipsand the strategic use of research infrastructure funding• increase research student numbers across the Universitywith an emphasis on securing external funding for these• continuously scrutinise the operation of internal fundingand incentive measures in order to ensure that they areworking to deliver the intended vision.The achievement of our vision for research will be deliveredthrough:• the appointment of academic staff of the highest quality• the active championship of the research ethos throughoutthe University• the application of detailed knowledge of government andfunding priorities, including regional awareness.The achievement of our vision for research will besupported by:• investment in the research infrastructure• responsive recruitment and promotion procedures.• staff mentorship and development• ensure that all appointments, promotions, mentoring,appraisal, development and personal reward systems foracademic staff support the delivery of the vision