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Governance

Constitutions of University Centres and Institutes

Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research

Director: Professor G. Lindsay, BSc, MEd, PhD, PGCE, FBPsS, FRSA, AcSS

  1. Aims of the Centre

    The aims of the Centre shall be:
    1. Appraisal: to engage in research into and the development of appraisal schemes used by teachers, advisers and inspectors in schools, colleges and local authorities. As well as developing appraisal instruments, Centre staff will also engage in basic research on educational appraisal and the contexts in which it occurs.
    2. Evaluation: to undertake evaluations of new educational initiatives developed by government, schools or other bodies. In conducting its own evaluations, the Centre will consider questions of appropriateness among the alternative available models, monitor the use of particular development strategies, and appraise the varying styles of dissemination viewed from the information needs of different audiences. The Centre will examine critically a range of evaluation styles, strategies, roles, models and methodologies. The Centre will offer technical assistance to outside groups involved in evaluation and self-evaluation research.
    3. Assessment: to carry out research on the nature and role of examinations, profiles, records and tests in teaching and learning.
    4. Methodology: to develop methodologies appropriate to the study of appraisal, assessment and evaluation in diverse educational settings. Particular attention will be given to the development of ‘combined method’ approaches to evaluation comprising both qualitative and quantitative methods for the comprehensive examination of complex systems and initiatives. The Centre will undertake descriptive and analytical case studies, historical materials, the use of survey data and the analysis of large datasets. Centre staff will concern themselves with data collection, analysis, interpretation, judgement and reportage, as well as the possibilities offered by the re-analysis of data sets, local and national, already in existence.
    5. Research: to engage in basic and 'applied' educational research. As well as focused research studies of particular institutions, activities and events, there will also be more general accounts of issues in curriculum development and contributions towards the analysis of planned change in educational settings. All activities of the Centre will involve the development of links between researchers, evaluators and practitioners from all parts of the education service, with the intention of facilitating and strengthening links between research, policy and practice. Thus the work of the Centre will provide a major opportunity to bring together in-service education, development, appraisal, evaluation and research to mutual advantage.

  2. The Director of the Centre

    There shall be a Director of the Centre who shall be a member of the Institute of Education, ex officio. The Director shall be appointed by the Senate on a recommendation of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The period of office shall be three years, the appointment being renewable.

    The Director shall be responsible to the Advisory Board for the planning and direction of the work and for the management of the Centre.

    A Deputy Director (if appointed) shall also be a member of the Institute of Education, ex officio.

  3. Membership

    The membership of the Centre shall comprise all members of academic and research staff and all members of project teams currently contributing to the work of the Centre. Meetings of the Centre shall be held at least once per term.

  4. Advisory Board

    1. There shall be an Advisory Board of the Centre with the following terms of reference:
      1. to maintain a broad oversight of the work of the Centre;
      2. to consider the progress, balance and utility of the work undertaken by the Centre and to advise the Director accordingly;
      3. to consider, for onward submission to the Senate an Annual Report from the Director of the Centre, incorporating a statement of the funds and accounts of the Centre;
      4. to advise on applications for funds for the Centre to bodies outside the University;
      5. to advise the Senate through the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the progress of the work of the Centre.
    2. The Advisory Board shall normally meet at least once a year.
    3. The membership of the Advisory Board shall be as follows:
      1. Chair of the Board;
      2. the Director of the Centre, ex officio;
      3. one other member of the Centre, elected by and from the membership of the Centre;
      4. the Director of the Institute of Education, ex officio;
      5. the Chair of the Institute of Education, ex officio;
      6. the Chair of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences, ex officio;
      7. two members of the academic staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences, appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences;
      8. eight members external to the University, appropriately qualified, appointed by the Senate on the nomination of the Director of the Centre;
      9. three further academic members appointed by the Senate on the nomination of the Director.

     

Eighteenth Century Centre

Director: Dr C. Walton

To be confirmed

Centre for Ethics, Law and Public Affairs

Director: Dr M. Clayton

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. To enhance the University’s prominence as a centre for research into the relationship between ethics, law, and public affairs; for example, via the organisation of conferences, seminar series, and symposia, and a dedicated website.
    2. To facilitate research in normative theory as practised in Anglo-American moral, legal, and political philosophy by:
      1. Encouraging and coordinating the activities of researchers with interests in normative inquiry into public affairs, and by supporting bids for funding to establish networks of researchers, run workshops and conferences, and conduct collaborative research projects.
      2. Promoting graduate research in this area by hosting graduate conferences, and running seminar programmes and symposia involving graduate students, and by encouraging student participation in the Centre’s other activities.
      3. Attracting and supporting post-doctoral researchers with interests in ethics, and political and legal philosophy in the Anglo-American tradition.
      4. Hosting Visiting Fellows interested in contributing to, and promoting, the work of the Centre.
    3. To foster links with other University centres and external organisations, public bodies and think-tanks, to promote an understanding of ethics and political morality and their application to issues of public policy.

  2. Membership

    The membership of the Centre shall consist of academic members of staff and research students who have interests that are congruent with the aims of the Centre, and other individuals, including Visiting Fellows, who may be approved by the Centre’s Management Committee.

  3. The Director of the Centre

    1. The Director shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Politics and International Studies.
    2. The Director shall be appointed for a term of normally three years, the appointment being renewable.

    The Director shall consult with the Management Committee over the Centre’s strategy and shall be responsible for its implementation.

European History Research Centre

The Centre is part of the Department of History at the University of Warwick established since 1965.

Director: Professor M. Philp

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. To provide a centre for the research activities related to European History
    2. To further advance the Warwick History Department’s research in the broad field of European History and to facilitate collaboration between members of this department and those working in similar areas in other departments and faculties within the University; and to stimulate and support inter-disciplinary research especially across the Arts and Social Sciences.
    3. To coordinate, facilitate and publicise the research and policy-related activities of colleagues working in areas of the centre’s activities.
    4. To promote the development of research funding applications for projects with European dimensions, and to help to create groups and networks of scholars with shared research interests, both within and outside the university, and to support and facilitate their applications and research activities.
    5. To provide opportunities for visiting scholars.
    6. To provide an institutional platform to organise and promote workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures and impact-related activities; and to support both research publication and the development of wider impact agendas in relation to European projects.
    7. To provide a forum for the critical scrutiny of research papers and to encourage their development and publication in top-rank journals.
    8. To establish Warwick as a centre for research on Europe with a distinctive interest in interdisciplinary work and with a reputation for intellectual innovation and excellence.

  2. Membership

    • Membership of the centre is open to any member of the Arts and Social Science faculties, including staff and postgraduate students with a specific interest in European history very broadly understood and with an interest in participating in the Centre’s activities.

  3. Funding

    • The funding of the Centre will initially draw on funding from the History Department but will be seeking its own funding through research grants.

  4. The Director of the Centre

    1. The Director shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Arts on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of History.
    2. The Director shall be appointed for a term of normally three years, the appointment being renewable.
    3. The Director shall consult with the Head of the Department of History and the Chair of the Arts Faculty over the Centre’s strategy and shall be responsible for its implementation.

Fluid Dynamics Research Centre

Director: Dr P. J. Thomas, Dip, PhD
1st Deputy Director: Professor R. M. Kerr, BSc, MSc. PhD
2nd Deputy Director: Professor S. Molokov, MSc, PhD

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. To promote and carry out interdisciplinary research in fluid dynamics and related topics.
    2. To maintain a balanced programme of fundamental and industrial research projects.
    3. To co-ordinate an integrated interdisciplinary approach to research that combines the theoretical, computational and experimental expertise in the School of Engineering, and the Departments (Mathematics and Physics) where relevant research is conducted.

  2. Functions of the Centre

    1. To co-ordinate and facilitate collaborative interdisciplinary research activities involving the School of Engineering, and other participating departments.
    2. To promote interaction and collaboration with industry.
    3. To organise a programme of seminars, workshops, conferences and other meetings.
    4. To organise short courses, primarily for industry.
    5. To promote international collaboration and exchange in fluid dynamics research at the University.

  3. Membership

    The members of the Centre shall consist of academic and research staff of the University who have research interests in fluid dynamics and related areas. Academic and research staff in nearby universities and industrial and governmental research centres may be nominated for associate membership by the Director of the Centre after consultation with the Management Committee.

  4. The Director of the Centre

    1. There shall be a Director and two Deputy Directors of the Centre appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Science on the recommendation of the Management Committee of the Centre.
    2. The Director shall be responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report for the Senate.

  5. Management Committee

    1. The Committee shall consist of:
      1. the Director;
      2. the Deputy Directors;
      3. four other members of the Centre; with different participating departments to be represented.
      4. the Chair of the participating departments or their nominated representatives, ex officio
    2. The appointments shall be for three years. The Director and the Deputy Directors of the Centre shall appoint the other members of the Management Committee after consultation with the senior academic members of the Centre.
    3. The terms of reference of the Committee are: to determine the policy of the Centre with regard to finances, research activities, personnel and interdisciplinary research projects. All major decisions will be made through the Management Committee. The Committee will also play a major role in promoting the research activities of the Centre.
    4. The Management Committee will meet as the need arises, but normally not less than once a term.

Centre for Fusion Space and Astrophysics (CFSA)

Director: Professor S. Chapman and Professor R. Dendy

To be confirmed

Centre for Global History and Culture

Director: Professor D. Branch and Professor G. Riello

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. To advance research and learning in global approaches to history and culture.
    2. To provide a focus for the interdisciplinary study of global history and culture at an international level, through the following:
      1. by encouraging the development of research projects and research funding in the field of the Global History and Culture.
      2. by advancing research and learning in Global History and Culture in the University and in the wider academic community through symposia, conferences, day schools and seminar series.
      3. by promoting connections and contacts between staff in the Centre and those in other departments and Centres of the University.
      4. by attracting honorary visiting fellows, postgraduate exchanges and postdoctoral fellows.
    3. To place the study of global history and culture in a wider international academic community by:
      1. fostering research-interchange programmes with research groups and centres in the field in other parts of Europe, in North America and Asia, as well as other parts of the world where such research centres or groups may now exist or emerge.
      2. forming networks with other groups and centres in museums, galleries, libraries and other centres for research in global history and culture outside the University sector.
    4. To facilitate the dissemination of research findings by staff, students and visiting speakers through publication and other means.
    5. To encourage graduate research in Global History and in wider world approaches to History and Culture in the University.

  2. Membership

    The membership of the Centre shall be open to academic and research staff in the University teaching and researching in the field of Global History and Culture, and to other scholars associated with the work of the Centre.

  3. The Director

    1. The Director shall be appointed by the Faculty of Arts on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of History.
    2. The Director shall be responsible to the Head of the Department of History for the planning, direction and execution of the Centre’s affairs, and for the use of discretionary funds where these may be allocated to the Centre.
    3. The Director shall be appointed for a period of three years, the appointment being renewable. An Acting Director shall be selected and appointed in discussion with the Head of Department and the Management Committee during periods of the Director’s study leave.

  4. Management Committee

    1. There shall be a Management Committee of the Centre consisting of:
      1. the Director of the Centre as Chair
      2. the Head of the Department of History
      3. a member of the Faculty of Arts nominated by the Chair of the Faculty of Arts
      4. up to three members of the academic staff of the University involved in, or associated with, the work of the Centre
      5. where appropriate, associate and honorary fellows of the Centre
    2. The terms of reference of the Management Committee shall be to advise on the progress of the work of the Centre, the creation of new projects and related applications for funding, the allocation of discretionary funds and all other matters relevant to the Centre.

      The Management Committee shall meet as necessary.

Centre for the History of Medicine

Director: Dr R. Bivins

  1. Establishment of the Centre

    The Centre for the History of Medicine was established in 1999 to co-ordinate activities in the history of medicine within the University. the Centre's remit at the time was straightforward, its aims modest: to build upon and further develop existing activities. Since then, the Centre has grown substantially and increasingly become a key area for the History Department with regard to the Research Assessment Exercise. It therefore has become necessary for the Centre to have a mission statement that reflects its varied objectives.

  2. Aims of the Centre

    The Centre for the History of Medicine at the University of Warwick is an active group of scholars teaching and researching in the history of medicine. As a group, the Centre aims:
    1. To attract scholars of the highest standing to contribute to and participate in the Centre's programmes and provide them with a stimulating and supportive environment in which to develop professionally;
    2. To raise further the profile of the Centre and its activities both within the University and across the history of medicine communities in the UK and abroad;
    3. To engage the local community and the public at large with the history of medicine as a discipline relevant to contemporary concerns, and to do so in creative and innovative ways;
    4. To conduct teaching and research in the history of medicine of the highest calibre and particularly to address issues that are significant to vital or emerging debates within the discipline.

  3. Membership

    1. All teaching staff currently attached to the Centre. Normally to include full-time and part-time, temporary and permanent teaching staff within the History Department who identify themselves as historians of medicine.
    2. All contract research staff currently attached to the Centre for the duration of their contracts;
    3. Students in the history of medicine. To include all MA and PhD students, full and part-time;
    4. Other co-opted members.

  4. The Director

    • To be nominated by the academic staff attached to the Centre and approved by the Advisory Board. The term of office shall be three years, renewable at the Advisory Board's discretion.

  5. Advisory Board

    The Advisory Board shall advise on all matters relevant to the Centre's work, including academic and research programmes, conferences and publications, the appointment of Associate Members and Honorary Fellows of the Centre, and external funding issues. The Advisory Board shall consider the Annual Report from the Director on the activities of the Centre.

    The Advisory Board shall comprise all Members of the Centre from categories i-ii, as above, and the following:

    1. Student Members of the CHM

    2. Members of the History Department

      • To include the Chair of the History department, or a suitable nominee; the departmental Director of Research; and the Director of Postgraduate Studies.

    3. Members of other departments within the University

      • Where there is a strong and self-identified interest in the history of medicine and the medical humanities. The Research Centre Coordinator shall act as secretary.

    4. Other Members

      • From time to time the Centre shall invite individuals to be associated with the Centre in one of the following capacities; these individuals shall be considered Members of both the Centre and the Advisory Board for the duration of their appointment.

    5. Associate Members

      • Those individuals from UK institutions invited to participate in Centre activities on an informal but ongoing basis shall be designated Associate Members. Associate Members shall be kept apprised of Centre activities, so as to be able to contribute actively to fulfilling the Centre's Mission Statement. Associate Members shall be appointed on the recommendation of the Director and with the approval of the Board, for a period of two years (renewable at the discretion of the Board).

    6. Honorary Fellows

      • Those individuals of international reputation in the History of Medicine invited to participate in Centre activities on an informal but ongoing basis shall be designated Honorary Fellows. Honorary Fellows shall be kept apprised of Centre activities, so as to be able to actively contribute to fulfilling the Centre's Mission Statement. On occasion, Honorary Fellows may also be consulted on matters of policy, asked to review funding applications, and other such activities in support of Centre objectives. Honorary Fellows shall be appointed on the recommendation of the Director and with the approval of the Board, for a period of four years (renewable at the discretion of the Board).

     

Centre for Human Rights in Practice

Director: Dr J. Harrison

  1. Establishment of the Centre

    The Centre for Human Rights in Practice has been established within the School of Law. The activities and management of the centre will be subject to periodical review within the review of the school of Law.

  2. Aims of the Centre

    The aims of the Centre are to:
    1. encourage, co-ordinate and support identified human rights projects to be undertaken by students of the School of Law.
    2. facilitate the participation of postgraduate and undergraduate students in human rights research and experiential learning opportunities.
    3. encourage the publication and wider dissemination of scholarly work on human rights in practice.
    4. form links with human rights organisations and practitioners with a view to sharing experiences and knowledge.
    5. act as a depository of information and reflection accumulated from students, practitioners, and academics involved in the projects undertaken by the Centre.

  3. Membership

    The members of the Centre for Human Rights in Practice shall consist of its academic staff, associate fellows, visiting fellows and other people approved by the Head of the School of Law.

  4. The Director of the Centre

    There shall be a Director of the Centre, who shall be appointed on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Law. The appointment shall be for three years initially, subject to an annual review and the appointment being renewable at the discretion of the Head of the School of Law. The Director shall be responsible to the Head of the School of Law for the planning, direction and implementation of the Centre's strategy and programme.

  5. The Executive Committee

    An Executive Comittee will be appointed by the Head of the School of Law to oversee the work of the Centre and to approve periodic reports on its activities to the Legal Research Institute and, through it, to the School of Law and the University. The Executive Committee will consist of:
    1. The Head of Department of the School of Law(ex officio)
    2. The Director of the Legal Resarch Institute (ex officio)
    3. The Director of the Centre
    4. Four representatives of the academic staff who are members of the Centre
    5. One postgraduate student member of the Centre.

  6. Activities of the Centre

    The Centre for Human Rights in Practice will be empowered, subject to academic and/or budgetary approval of the Head of the School of Law and the University, to undertake the following activites:
    1. the organisation and conduct of meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences within the field of human rights;
    2. providing advice and assistance on publications, including undertaking various forms of publishing in its own right or in association with other publishers, within the field of human rights;
    3. providing advice and assistance on, and the organisation and conduct of, teaching and professional development in the field of human rights;
    4. providing advice and assistance on, and the organisation and conduct of, research on human rights;
    5. providing advice and assistance on seeking funding to support any of the above activities, including where appropriate the drafting of and associating the Centre with such funding applications;
    6. providing advice and assistance and designing student led human rights projects, including internships, work experience or student research;
    7. providing advice and assistance in developing the curricula to incorporate human rights teaching and learning within the School of Law and other institutions inside and outside the University;
    8. any other activities of an academic nature which may be agreed by the School of Law and the University;.

  7. Funding of the Centre

    1. The Director shall supervise the funds of the Centre subject to the University's Financial Regulations
    2. The Director of the centre shall authorise expenditure from funds allocated to the Centre, and is responsible to the Head of the School of Law to ensure that expenditure is within the funds allocated to the Centre.
    3. Nothing in this constitution abrogates the overall responsibility of the University Finance Director.

Warwick Centre for Industrial Biotechnology and Biorefining

Director: Professor T. Bugg

  1. Aims of Centre

    1. To increase the external visibility of Warwick University as an internationally leading research organisation in the broad area of biotechnology, via dissemination of the research taking place at Warwick University in the area of industrial biotechnology.
    2. To offer an attractive opportunity for industrial partners, since members of the Centre do the full range of industrial biotechnology activities, from plant science and genetics, through biochemistry and fermentation, to product synthesis and manufacturing.
    3. To foster interdisciplinary research between different Departments within the University in the broad area of Biotechnology, by organising regular interdisciplinary workshops in the area of Biotechnology.
    4. To co-ordinate and provide advanced training in the area of Biotechnology.
    5. To become a key strategic research centre for UK funders, and a desirable research partner for EC and other international funders.

  2. Activities

    1. Organisation of meetings (2 or 3 per year), on specific areas of research in the area of Biotechnology, to which we would invite members of the Centre and industrial partners.
    2. Listing of facilities & expertise around the University in the area of Biotechnology
    3. Co-ordination of larger research bids to external funders in the area of Biotechnology, by identifying opportunities, bringing teams together, and involving industrial partners
    4. A web site to advertise current projects, facilities, and activities of the Centre
    5. Co-ordination of training activities around the University in the area of Biotechnology.

  3. Membership

    1. Members of the Centre shall be academic and research staff from the Department of Chemistry, the School of Life Sciences, the School of Engineering, and Warwick Manufacturing Group who are carrying out research in the area of Industrial Biotechnology.
    2. Industrial representatives interested in the activities of the Centre may be co-opted as Members, and will be invited to events organised by the Centre.

  4. Director

    1. The Director of the Centre shall be nominated by the Management Committee, and approved by the University Research Committee, for a period of 3 years, with an option for renewal.
    2. The first Director shall be Professor Tim Bugg (Chemistry).
    3. The Director is responsible for implementing the strategy of the Centre, and guiding its development.
    4. The Director may appoint a Deputy Director to assist in the management of the Centre.

  5. Management Committee

    1. The Management Committee will consist of the Director, Deputy Director (if appointed) and up to three other co-opted members, nominated by the member Departments and appointed by the current Director of the Centre for a three-year period, such that the Management Committee membership is representative of each of the member Departments.
    2. The Management Committee shall meet at least once each year. The Management Committee will advise the Director on strategic direction for the Centre, opportunities for joint funding proposals and opportunities for industrial collaboration.

  6. Financial Responsibility

    1. External research grants awarded to the Centre will be administered by the Principal Investigator of that grant, via the PI’s Department.
    2. Any funding obtained to conduct Centre activities will be authorized by the Director, and administered through the academic Departments represented in the Centre, subject to the University’s financial regulations.

Industrial Relations Research Centre

Director: Professor G. Meardi

  1. Establishment of the Unit

    The Industrial Relations Research Unit was established by the then Social Science Research Council in 1970 at the University of Warwick. In 1984 the Unit was reconstituted within the University's Business School, embracing the Council's (now the Economic and Social Research Council) Designated Research Centre in Industrial Relations Research and the research activities of Business School staff with interests in the field of industrial relations.

  2. Focus and Aims

    1. The focus of IRRU is research into all aspects of industrial relations, which is defined broadly to include the whole of the relationship between employers and employees in the conduct of work, together with the social, economic and political factors which shape this relationship.
    2. The aims of IRRU are:
      1. to be an international as well as national centre which attracts researchers, research students and visiting scholars; encourage teaching and research collaboration with other leading centres throughout the world, and provides for a concentration of resources and continuity of work;
      2. to encourage the development and dissemination of research, in particular theoretically-informed empirical enquiry which is independent of interest groups, and to secure funding for such research from sources compatible with this aim;
      3. to contribute to the improvement of the quality of data and analysis available to industrial relations policy-making by government, employers and trade unions;
      4. to contribute to research-led teaching in industrial relations within Warwick Business School.
    3. Where appropriate, these aims will be pursued through the location within IRRU of any ESRC-funded research centre in the field.

  3. Membership

    1. Full members are those members of Warwick Business School who are actively engaged in industrial relations research and who are not attached to other research centres or units within Warwick Business School. They shall elect members of the Advisory Board and Management Committees as described below. Membership will be approved by the Management Committee. There shall be a meeting of all staff at least twice a year.
    2. Other categories of membership are:
      1. associate fellows, who are normally scholars from other institutions of higher education involved in projects jointly with the Unit.
      2. visiting fellows, who are scholars or practitioners visiting the Unit in the course of their own work.
      3. student members, who are normally doctoral students or equivalent research students attached to the Unit.

    3. Associate fellows and visiting fellows shall be appointed by the University on the recommendation of the Unit's Management Committee.

  4. The Director

    The Director of the IRRU shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences on the recommendation of the Dean of the Warwick Business School and appointment shall be typically for a period of two years and be ordinarily renewable. The Director shall consult with the Advisory and Management Committees over the planning and direction of the Unit's work. Where IRRU has an ESRC-funded research centre, the Director of the Centre shall normally be the Director of IRRU.

  5. Advisory Committee

    1. There shall be an Advisory Committee consisting of:
      1. the Director of IRRU;
      2. the convener of the Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour (IROB) Group of Warwick Business School or, where the convener is not also a member of IRRU, a nominee who is a member of IRRU;
      3. the Dean of the Warwick Business School;
      4. two members, chosen by and from the academic staff of the Unit, of whom one will be from the staff at the level of senior lecturer or principal research fellow and above, and one from below this level. Where IRRU has an ERSC-funded centre, two further representatives shall be chosen, one from the senior and one from the junior staff;
      5. three senior members of the academic staff of other departments of the University;
      6. up to five appropriately-qualified members external to the University, of whom at least one shall normally represent an international body in the field. Appropriate qualifications may include practical as well as academic experience. Where the Unit has an ESRC-funded research centre, ESRC may exercise the right to nominate a third of the membership of the committee if it does not contain at least a third drawn from the research user community and from academics from other universities; should this right be exercised, any nominees will not be expected to represent the views of ESRC.
      7. one nominee from each of ACAS, the CBI, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the TUC.
      8. one of the members external to the University shall be elected as Chair.
    2. The terms of reference shall be:
      1. to advise the University and Unit on the development of the research programme and academic plans of the Unit;
      2. to receive and comment on the Bi-Annual Report

  6. Management Committee

    1. There shall be a Management Committee comprising:
      1. the Director of IRRU;
      2. the convenor of the IROB Group of Warwick Business School or, where the convenor is not also a member of IRRU, a nominee who is an IRRU member;
      3. two members, chosen by and from the academic staff of the Unit, of whom one will be from the staff at the level of senior lecturer or principal research fellow and above, and one from below this level. Where IRRU has an ESRC-funded centre, two further representatives shall be chosen, one from the senior and one from the junior staff.
    2. The Management Committee will be chaired by one of its members, who will normally be the Director of IRRU.
    3. The terms of reference of the Management Committee shall be to:
      1. decide on membership;
      2. plan the Unit's research strategy; encourage new research initiatives; and oversee the development of the research programme.
      3. oversee the production of the Unit's Bi-Annual report;
      4. decide on the allocation of discretionary funds;
      5. manage IRRU at an operational level, without prejudice to the rights and responsibilities of the director and research staff of any ESRC-funded research centre within IRRU.
    4. The Management Committee shall meet as necessary, normally at least three times a year, and shall have a quorum of three quarters.

Centre for Industrial Ultrasonics

Director: Professor S. Dixon

To be confirmed

Warwick Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (WIDER) Centre

Director: Prof Matt Keeling (Mathematics Institute & School of Life Sciences)

Deputy Director: Prof Graham Medley (School of Life Sciences)

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. To promote and support inter-disciplinary and cross-faculty research in infectious disease epidemiology and related topics.
    2. To provide a hub for the existing expertise within Warwick, enabling researchers with complementary interests to exchange ideas and develop novel approaches.
    3. To promote the research within Warwick in Infectious Disease Epidemiology to the outside world.
    4. To establish WIDER as an internationally recognised centre for infectious disease epidemiology based on excellence of its research.

  2. Activities of the Centre

    • To achieve the aims stated above, the WIDER centre will undertake a range of activities including:
      1. Weekly, informal seminar series where Warwick researchers in Infectious Disease Epidemiology can share ideas and results.
      2. Attract excellent external speakers to present their findings and ideas to interested researchers in Warwick
      3. Regular meetings of all PIs to stimulate research and grant applications, with the specific aim of supporting more junior members.
      4. Maintaining a strong web presence to promote Warwick research in Infectious Disease Epidemiology to the outside world.
      5. Seek additional funding to support the operation of the Centre.
      6. Attract high quality young researchers to apply for fellowships to be held at Warwick
      7. Undertake other activities commensurate with the aims of the Centre.

  3. Membership

    1. The members of the Centre shall consist of academic and research staff, visiting and associate fellows of the University who have research interests in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and related areas.
    2. Individuals who wish to be a member of the Centre should approach the Director who will seek confirmation from the Management Committee that their membership will enhance the Centre; requests to become members will not normally be refused.
    3. Academic and research staff in other universities and governmental research agencies may be nominated for associate membership by the Director to the Management Committee. Associate membership will be granted if there is a demonstrable benefit to the Centre.

  4. Directorship

    1. There shall be a Director and Deputy Director of the Centre who shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Science on the recommendation of the Management Committee, initially for a period of three years, the appointment being renewable. The Director shall be responsible to the Management Committee for the planning, direction and execution of the Centre's affairs.
    2. Details of Management Committee:
      • The role of the Management Committee shall be to advise the Director on the day-to-day activities of the Centre and to provide a link to multiple departments within the University.
    3. The Management Committee shall consist of:
      • the Director;
      • the Deputy Director;
      • up to 5 other co-opted members of the Centre representative of participating Departments.
    4. The appointments to the Management Committee shall be for three years. The Director, the Deputy Director and members of the Centre shall appoint the other members of the Management Committee.
    5. The Management Committee shall meet as required, and at least once per year.

  5. Financial Responsibility

    1. The Centre does not have any financial standing, responsibility or profile.
    2. Any funding obtained to conduct Centre activities will be administered through Departments.

Innovation, Knowledge and Organisational Networks Research Unit (IKON)

Director: Professor J. Swan and Professor D. Nicolini

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. IKON is a multidisciplinary research centre located in Warwick Business School. IKON research aims to develop the social science of innovation by applying theoretical perspectives from social and organization theory to empirical studies of the creation, translation and use of knowledge and innovation. Since its establishment in 1997, IKON has gained significant national and international reputation and has been influential across a variety of academic fields, namely organization studies, innovation studies and information systems. Our particular focus is on understanding the social and information processes and networking practices entailed in innovation and the ways in which these are influenced by specific organizational and institutional contexts.
    2. Our specific objectives are to:
      1. Co-ordinate, support and conduct academically rigorous research that focuses on analysis of inter-organizational relationships and networks, their strategic role in the development of innovation, and innovative approaches to managing knowledge and organizations.
      2. Generate high quality research income and published output.
      3. Engage with industry to develop practically-relevant and high impact research.
      4. Provide an interdisciplinary network for discussion and scholarly debate amongst researchers and industrialists (within the UK and internationally) and, by so doing, increase the international profile of research at the University of Warwick.
      5. Develop and build research capacity via the recruitment, training and development of post-graduate students and post-doctoral researchers

  2. Activities

    1. Funded Research
      • IKON has raised over £4 million external funding for research over the past 10 years and also housed the £6m ESRC research programme on the Evolution of Business Knowledge. IKON continues to focus its funding efforts on high profile/high quality sources including: the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC), The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Research projects in the past 3 years have totaled, from these sources, £1,740,241 (fEC) with an additional £672,350 secured for projects starting in September 2013.
    2. High Quality Research Output
      • IKON research output prioritises high quality output in leading international journals. In the past 3 years the core members (Lead Investigators – see below) have published a total of 45 academic journal articles (38 in ABS 3* or 4* journals). In addition, in the past 3 years IKON research has produced 4 books and several (7) book chapters. IKON research is also presented each year at the major international conferences in the field (including the Academy of Management Conference, the European Group on Organization Studies conference, the International Conference on Information Systems, the European Conference on Information Systems, the Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities Conference) as well as at more specialist international workshops and symposia (e.g. the International Symposium on Process Organization Studies, the Organization Studies Summer Workshop).
    3. International Networks and Reputation Building
      • IKON provides direct support for researchers and boosts the reputation of Warwick University research via its dissemination and network events. These include:
        1. A regular International Distinguished Speakers seminar series
        2. Research project-focused feedback and dissemination workshops
        3. Attracting and hosting (via WBS standard procedures) international visiting scholars (most recently Professor Paul Carlile from Boston University).
        4. Hosting of management practice fellows and industry secondments.
        5. IKON’s role as founder and executive board member for the annual international conference series on Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities (now in its 13th year).
    4. Industry Engagement and Impact
      • IKON promotes direct engagement of research with practice and practitioners via its entrepreneurial industry network on Knowledge and Innovation Network (KIN - see http://www.ki-network.org). Launched in 2001, KIN focuses on the management of knowledge and networks as a way of tackling problems of competitiveness and innovation across industry sectors. Members of this exclusive fee-paying network (number ranging between 16 and 20) include private sector multinationals and public organizations. A specific remit of KIN is to increase the relevance and impact of IKON research, turning it into strategic tools and techniques (KIN forms one of WBS’s impact cases for the forthcoming REF). KIN boosts IKON research via collaborative projects (with some co-funding) and generates a small additional revenue stream to support IKON research (e.g. the part-funding of its projects coordinator) and PhD studentships.
    5. Capacity Building
      • IKON members supervise a significant number of PhD projects to successful completion, and IKON scholarships provide some funding for new students for research in the Centre’s areas of expertise (in line with the usual admissions criteria for the WBS PhD programme). IKON also runs a regular series of seminars and events directly targeted at developing junior scholars and PhD students.

  3. Membership

    1. IKON research is traditionally team-based and collaborative, spanning subject groups, disciplines, Warwick departments (e.g. Warwick Medical School, Warwick Manufacturing Group) and institutions (e.g. joint research projects with Queen Mary University, Bentley University USA, Boston University USA, Nottingham University, Kings College London). Reflecting our emphasis on the importance networked forms of organization for innovation, IKON operates itself as a research network, not as an isolated ‘Centre’. Membership is organized around a core group of senior staff who act as network brokers with a much wider community. All belong to different subject groups in WBS and carry out normal teaching/admin responsibilities. IKON core members are defined as Warwick-based Lead Investigators on funded IKON research projects, externally funded post-doctoral research staff, and the IKON projects coordinator.
    2. In the previous 3-year period, core members were:
      1. Lead Investigators: Prof Jacky Swan; Prof Harry Scarbrough (to Sept 2012); Prof Davide Nicolini, Prof Joe Nandhakumar; Prof Sue Newell; Dr Gerry McGivern
      2. Post-Doctoral Research Fellows: Jeanne Mengis, Emmanouil Gkeredakis, Sarah Evans, Marco Marabelli, Maja Korica, Nikiforos Panourgias, Daniela D’Andreta
      3. IKON Projects Co-ordinator: Dawn Coton
    3. Alongside this core is a shifting group of affiliate members, both internal and external to the University of Warwick. Affiliate members work/have worked as co-investigators on present and past projects and collaborate on IKON publications but do not usually get involved in the day-to-day management of the Centre and its projects – for example, Prof Graeme Currie; Prof John Powell, formerly Warwick Medical School (WMS), now NICE; Prof Aileen Clark, WMS; Prof Maxine Robertson, Queen Mary University of London; Prof Paul Carlile, Boston University. Affiliates also include all IKON PhD students and practitioners working as collaborators on IKON projects (for example, Dr David Sharp, Director NHS Commissioning Board Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, Claudia Roginski, formerly Head of Information for the NHS Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust). Alongside core members and affiliates, IKON embraces a more extensive community of ‘IKON friends’ – i.e. scholars within and outside Warwick that wish to be part of the broader IKON network, hear about IKON research and participate in IKON events.
    4. This flexible, network structure allows IKON to retain its distinctive research focus and intellectual coherence while, at the same time, extending its reach as broadly as possible within and beyond the confines of the Department and the University. It also significantly reduces the administrative overhead usually associated with major ‘stand-alone’ research centres - IKON is now operated entirely by a 10% workload allocation to its Director and a 0.8 clerical post, the latter being funded through a combination of research projects and industry funding.

  4. Director

    1. The IKON Director role is shared between Prof Jacky Swan and Prof Davide Nicolini, and supported by the department with a (total) 10% Academic Balance Model (workload) allocation. This provides greater continuity for the Centre and its research staff in the case of temporary absence, holiday leave, study leave etc.
    2. The Director for 2013/14 period is Prof Swan (Prof Nicolini has study leave).

  5. Management Committee or Advisory Board

    1. As a departmental research centre, IKON’s management processes follow WBS’s departmental procedures, e.g. for appointments and review of staff and for financial control. In order to ensure the scientific rigour and relevance of the research, IKON research projects have, in addition, their own Scientific and Stakeholder Advisory Panels (SSAPs). The membership of each SSAP comprises invited, mainly external, senior scholars and practitioners who are selected on the basis of their skills and experience in the particular topic. The role of the SSAP is to advise on all aspects of research design and conduct (including ethical issues), to review/advise on emerging findings, and to assist in the review of research outputs (including final reports). SSAPs meet on average three times per project, funded as direct costs under research awards.
    2. For example, the SSAP members for the NIHR Project ‘Evidence in Management Decisions – Advancing Knowledge Utilization Healthcare Management’ were:
      • Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor, Medical Director, The NHS Confederation
      • Professor Peter Littlejohns, Clinical and Public Health Director of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
      • Dr Gordana Djuric, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Warwickshire PCT
      • Ray Phillips, Head of Information Services Development, The King's Fund
      • Margaret Demian, Head of Knowledge Management, NHS Institute
      • Nigel Edwards, Director of Policy, The NHS Confederation
      • Dr Mike Graveney, Warwickshire PCT
      • Professor Matthew Cooke, Regional Chair of Darzi Review and Project Director for the National Electronic Library for Health
      • Dr David Davies Associate Professor in Medical Education, WMS
    3. All IKON projects follow the normal ethics approval procedures applied by the Department and the University. Those in the healthcare sector are, in addition, subject to strict NHS ethics review and evaluation procedures.

  6. Financial Responsibilities

    1. All IKON finances, grants and contracting are managed through the WBS finance office.
    2. IKON does not have independent financial authority or responsibilities.

Warwick Centre for Integrative Synthetic Biology (WISB)

Director: Dr O. Soyer

  1. Aims of the Centre.

    1. To conduct, promote and support inter-disciplinary and cross-faculty research in synthetic biology through seminars, workshops, and sandpits.
    2. To establish WISB as an internationally recognized Centre for synthetic biology based on excellence of its research.
    3. To promote the research within WISB to the outside world, including other national and international Institutes and researchers, the funding bodies, government departments, and the broader public.
    4. To support the development of interdisciplinary training for students and younger scientists in synthetic biology.
    5. To promote the public understanding of synthetic biology through arts and social sciences.
    6. To promote novel synthetic biology based industrial and medical applications.
    7. To establish WISB as an internationally recognized Centre for synthetic biology based on the excellence of its research.

  2. Activities of the Centre.

    1. To achieve the aims stated above, the WISB will undertake a range of activities including:
      1. Weekly, informal seminar series where Warwick researchers interested and working in synthetic biology can share ideas and results.
      2. Monthly seminars from internationally recognised external speakers to present their findings and ideas to interested researchers in Warwick.
      3. Regular meetings among all Centre members to discuss and help define the scientific strategy and direction of the research e.g. identify (and re-assess) the main grand challenges and explore potential novel solutions in synthetic biology, identify new applications and potential new partners, and sources of funding.
      4. Maintaining a strong web presence to promote Warwick research in synthetic biology to the outside world.
      5. Seek additional funding to support the operation of the Centre.
      6. Attract high quality young researchers to apply for fellowships to be held at Warwick and promote the synthetic biology field with undergraduates and PhD candidates.
      7. Reaching out to potential industries for development of links and partnerships.
      8. Undertake other activities commensurate with the aims of the Centre and including staging public events and forming partnerships with centres of excellence in synthetic biology.

  3. Directorship

    1. There shall be a Director and Deputy Director of the Centre who shall be appointed by the Board of the Faculty of Science on the recommendation of the Management Committee, initially for a period of three years, the appointment being renewable.
    2. The Director shall be responsible to the Management Committee for the planning, direction and execution of the Centre's affairs.
    3. An independent Advisory Board should oversee the development and conduct of the Centre.
    4. Details of Management Committee (MC):
      • The role of the MC shall be to advise the Director on the day-to-day activities of the Centre and to provide a link to multiple departments within the University.
    5. The MC shall consist of:
      • 1. the Director;
      • 2. the Deputy Director;
      • 3. at least 3 and up to 6 other co-opted members of the Centre.
    6. The appointments to the MC shall be for three years.
    7. The Director, the Deputy Director and members of the Centre shall appoint the other members of the MC.
    8. The Management Committee shall meet as required, and at least once per year.

  4. Details of Advisory Board (AB)

    1. To ensure maximum scientific, societal and industrial impact of WISB, the MC will interact closely with an assembled AB.
    2. The AB will oversee the efficient development of the vision and strategic plan of WISB and assist in achieving maximal impact from it. The AB shall not be larger than 8 members, which shall consist of:
      1. at last two world-leading synthetic biologists;
      2. at least one industrialists,
      3. and at least one social scientist familiar with the potential economic and social impact of synthetic biology.
    3. The appointments of AB shall be for three years. The Director, the Deputy Director and members of the MC shall appoint the members of the AB.
    4. The AB and MC will meet annually. The presentations and minutes of these meetings will be distilled into a report, which will be made available to the stake holders to feed into their development of investment plans, research portfolio and policy.

  5. Membership

    1. The members of the Centre shall consist of academic and research staff, visiting and associate fellows of the University who have research interests in synthetic biology and related areas.
    2. There will be a distinction between “core” and “associated” members, whereby core members will be seen as undertaking critical research activity in synthetic biology, while associated members having an interest in the field.
    3. Individuals who wish to be a member of the Centre should approach the Director who will seek confirmation from the Management Committee that their membership will enhance the Centre; requests to become members will not normally be refused.
    4. Academic and research staff in other universities and governmental research agencies may be nominated for associate membership by any member of the MC.
    5. Associate membership will be granted if there is a demonstrable benefit to the Centre.

  6. Financial Responsibility

    1. The Centre does not have any financial standing, responsibility or profile.
    2. Any funding obtained to conduct Centre activities will be administered through Departments.

Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies

Director: Professor C. Lury

  1. Aims of the Centre

    1. The primary aim of the Centre is to foster innovative and experimental forms of knowledge production, through a focus on interdisciplinary methodology. Subsidiary aims include:
      1. to attract and retain high quality researchers from all areas fostering a collaborative interdisciplinary methodological approach;
      2. the promotion and facilitation of interdisciplinary methodologies in research and teaching across the University, establishing close working relationships with academic staff from other departments and Centres working in related areas;
      3. the application for research grants that highlight methodological innovation and support the University’s position when applying for funding and to ensure opportunities are successfully utilized and managed;
      4. the setting up of category 2 and category 3 Centres within CIM as appropriate to support the University’s internationalization strategy, to contribute to its teaching and learning strategy and to raise the profile of the University in collaborative and interdisciplinary ventures;
      5. the publication and dissemination of the results of the Centre's research, through academic books, journal papers and the Centre's website and digital methods space;
      6. the development of national and international links and broader public engagement with direct impact-related initiatives;
      7. the organization of symposia, conferences, seminars and workshops;
      8. the development of postgraduate opportunities and programmes that express our interdisciplinary research ambitions.

  2. Director of the Centre

    1. The Director of the Centre shall be appointed by the Advisory Committee on the Appointment of Heads of Departments for a period of three years, the appointment being renewable;
    2. The Director shall be responsible to the University Research Committee and the Academic Resourcing Committee for the implementation of the Centre's strategy, for achieving its aims and its intellectual development;
    3. The Director shall be the Chair of the Centre’s Management Committee;
    4. The Director shall supervise and manage the funds of the Centre subject to the University’s financial regulations and is accountable to the Academic Resourcing Committee for the management of the Centre’s budget and for strategic, financial and educational experience planning. The Director shall attend meetings as required with the Academic Resourcing Committee as part of the annual planning round, at which he/she may be invited to discuss the performance of the Centre.
    5. The Director shall be responsible for the preparation of the Centre’s Annual Report (to include a Director’s Statement) and the completion of any other reports as required.
    6. The Director shall report to the Provost, via the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Arts and Social Sciences).

  3. Deputy Director of the Centre

    • There shall be a Deputy Director appointed by, and responsible to, the Director who shall carry out duties assigned by the Director within the general scope of the Director’s own role and to cover the Director’s role as appropriate. The Deputy Director shall also be responsible for the overall overview of the Centre’s teaching, learning and student experience; liaising with the Research Director on public engagement and impact and the Director of MA Studies / Director of MPhil/PhD Studies accordingly.

  4. Membership

    1. The members of the Centre shall be its academic and administrative staff;
    2. Students following MA or MPhil/PhD’s in Interdisciplinary Methodologies shall be members of the Centre (they may also be registered with a department working jointly with the Centre);
    3. Associate members shall include associate research fellows, visiting fellows and other persons approved by the Management Committee of the Centre.

  5. Management Committee

    1. There shall be a Management Committee which includes members of academic departments who have significant financial or intellectual stake in the activities of the Centre, consisting of:
      1. the Director of the Centre (as Chair);
      2. the Deputy Director of the Centre;
      3. the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Arts and Social Sciences);
      4. up to ten members and associate members of the Centre, appointed annually by the Management Committee and from the membership of the Centre to include research, postgraduate and administrative representation. There shall normally be at least one associate member from each Faculty.
    2. The terms of reference of the Management Committee shall be:
      1. to advise as to the day-to-day activities and progress of the work of the Centre;
      2. to advise on the creation of new projects and related applications for funding;
      3. to advise the Centre in accordance with funding and approved procedures as to the appointment of staff;
      4. reviewing research applications and the progress of projects within the Centre;
      5. to receive reports from the Director on the allocation of discretionary funds and
        all other matters relevant to the Centre.
    3. The Management Committee shall meet as necessary and at least once per term and shall have a quorate of five.
      There shall be an annual general meeting to which all members of the Centre shall be invited. The University Research Committee shall have primary responsibility for the Centre on behalf of the Senate.

  6. External and Internal Review

    • The Centre shall be subject to Annual and Triennial Reviews by the University Research Committee. In addition, all matters relating to the Centre's activities may be subject to external or internal review from time to time under the University's review procedures.

  7. Funding

    1. The Director shall supervise the funds of the Centre, subject to the University’s financial regulations, including grants made to specific members of the Centre;
    2. The Director shall authorise expenditure from funds allocated to the Centre, and is responsible to the Academic Resourcing Committee for ensuring that expenditure is within the funds allocated to the Centre;
    3. The Management Committee shall be informed in the Director's Annual Report about the funds and accounts of the Centre;
    4. Nothing in this Constitution abrogates the overall responsibilities of the University Finance Director.

Institute of Digital Healthcare

Director: Professor C. James

To be confirmed