|
|
|
|
|
1824 |
School
of Computer Science |
|
|
Weekly Newsletter |
9 May 2011 |
|
|
Contents |
News from Head of SchoolResearch Profiling Exercise The results of the university’s Research Profiling Exercise (RPE) are becoming available. These take the form of: 1. The raw data on which profiles are based. 2. The grades assigned to individual members of staff. 3. The profiles for schools based on staff grades. In terms of dissemination, we will provide each academic with a copy of the raw data used in the RPE, the grades will be available on request shortly, and the profile for the school is as follows: In the above, A is the top classification (and you can infer the rest!). These are analogous to the four-point scale used in REF, but although outputs are important, there is a greater contribution to grades from activity (e.g., grants, research students) in RPE than in REF. The most substantial change from the previous RPE is the reduction in the number of D classifications in Computer Science – this is partly due to departures, but may also result from improved performance, the change in sampling period, more complete data provision, changes in interpretation, etc.
As a guide to anticipated REF returns (ignoring for now the differences between REF and RPE), note that research assessed at levels C and D is not currently funded (and this seems unlikely to change). Thus it is a significant concern that over 30% of our staff are assessed at these levels. The current HEFCE model funds research at ratios 9:3:0:0 for A to D, so the fraction of a return assessed at A is really crucial. The school will shortly interact with all staff eligible for REF about their publications within the current REF period, with a view both to understanding how we are shaping up in terms of outputs and to providing guidance on how to strengthen individual returns. New Early Retirement and Voluntary Severance (ERVS) Scheme The university has launched a further ERVS
scheme, with a view to reducing its costs in the currently challenging
financial climate. Each faculty has savings targets that will only be met if
there are savings in all of academic, administrative and support staff in
most schools. It is not anticipated that there will be further ERVS
schemes, and the university may resort to more direct means of obtaining pay
savings if the targets are not met. Details of the scheme are at: http://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/employment/ervs/ EventsIMI eHealth week 9-15 May 11 The second Stakeholder Forum of the Innovative Medicines Initative (IMI) will be held in Budapest during the eHealth Week. The eHealth Week is jointly organised by the European Commission’s High Level Ministerial Conference and the World of Health IT Conference & Exhibition and will address healthcare issues from the home to the hospital. A number of side events and an exhibition will be organised including a workshop on "Active and Healthy Ageing – from Hospital to Home" in the framework of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Active and Healthy Ageing. The IMI Stakeholder Forum will take place on 11 and 12 May during eHealth Week. The Forum was organised for the first time in 2010 in Brussels, and aims bringing together industry representatives, regulators, policy makers, scientific experts, patient representatives and science leaders together to discuss about IMI projects, the IMI Research Agenda and IMI calls for proposals. School Board meeting 11 May 1115:30-17:00, IT building
room 407. MaDE 2011: Manchester Dependability Week 23-28 May 11The Centre for Interdisciplinary
Computational and Dynamical Analysis (CICADA) is organising a week of
symposia and tutorials in Resilient Engineering for dependable systems and in
modelling of Cyber-Physical systems. These events are free to PhD students
and a nominal charge of £25 per event is made to other research and academic
staff. The events will be of interest to researchers in formal methods and in
modelling complex systems. Several academics from the School will be speaking
or giving tutorials during the week. This is an excellent opportunity to
learn from international experts in these fields at very low cost. The
programme comprises: FIRE: Formal and Interdisciplinary models in
Resilience Engineering 23-25 May A
Research school with tutorials and lectures IMCPS2011: Interdisciplinary Modelling of
Cyber-Physical Systems 25-28 May Second
International Symposium in the series FORMA 2011: Formal and Resilient Methods in Aerospace
28th May A
Tutorial Workshop affiliated with IMCPS2011 Details of registration are
online. For more information contact Helen Harper. Seminar on BBSRC Funding Landscapes 3rd June 11Dr Alf Game Seminar on
BBSRC Funding Landscapes Dr. Alf Game will visit the MIB on Friday 3rd
June 2011 to give a presentation on the BBSRCs future funding landscapes and the implications for
delivery of their remit amongst other topics. Alf will be accompanied
by Dr. Colin Miles, Head of Integrative and Systems Biology. Alf is a senior administrator at the BBSRC and is
driving much of the change there and I anticipate that he will give a high
level and informed presentation/discussion. Please let Lesley-Ann Miller know if you plan to attend Prize & Award OpportunitiesRoyal Academy of Engineering Prizes to Reward Excellence in University Teaching 14 Oct 11 The Royal Academy of Engineering have just launched the 2011 ExxonMobil Excellence in
Teaching Awards, a programme which seeks to reward teaching excellence in UK
universities. The award remains fundamentally unchanged from
previous years: each award is made up of a prize of £10,000 with the
opportunity to access in kind support from ExxonMobil such as curriculum
enrichment and employment opportunities for both students seeking work
experience and priority status for graduates seeking full time appointments
on completion of their degrees. Each winning university is able to tailor
their own programme of in-kind opportunities to suit their specific needs or
interests. To date, those universities who have been selected to receive
awards have benefited from priority for graduate recruitment and employment;
undergraduate work placements and internships; access to the latest case
study teaching material and site visits. Please note this scheme is for engineers of every
discipline; it is not restricted to those from the chemical engineering or
petrochemical engineering disciplines nor does a prospective applicant need
to have any work experience in these subject areas. Further details and application info Deadline for applications: 14th October 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
