Research Centres
Introduction
Research Centres play a vital strategic role in the University, with successful Research Centres facilitating the pursuit of research and impact excellence, boosting Warwick’s academic reputation, and contributing to a positive research culture.
Research Centres should provide added value beyond existing institutional and departmental structures, bringing together groups of researchers to undertake a programme of activities in a specific research area. Research Centres differ from an informal research group in that they should make a well-defined contribution to University or Departmental research strategy, be formally constituted, and have a public profile.
Research Centre Governance
The University Research Committee is responsible for the governance of Research Centres.
Research Centre Guidelines
These guidelines spell out the University’s governance framework for Research Centres, including categorisation of Research Centres, oversight responsibilities and processes, processes for the establishment of new centres and for the closure of existing centres, and recommendations for the organisation of Research Centres.
Categorisation of University Research Centres
Research Centres are categorised as follows:
- Departmental Research Centres – Centres which are run primarily from within one academic Department, with the leadership of the centre from the Department.
- University Research Centres – Centres which are run across academic Departments, with the leadership of the centre normally spanning more than one Department.
Establishment of Research Centres
All active Research Centres should be included in the list of formally approved Research Centres, managed under the University’s governance framework. This will provide Research Centres with access to the University’s communications team, which will support Research Centres to promote and showcase their successes, and secure inclusion in a Community of Practice, which will provide advice and guidance on best practice as well as networking opportunities for Research Centre management teams. The Centre’s formal Constitution will also be published on the University Calendar.
Those wishing to propose a new Centre should complete the form below and follow the process outlined in the Research Centre guidelines:
Closure of Research Centres
Research Centres that are no longer active should be formally closed down, to check there are no unforeseen consequences to closure.
Those wishing to close an existing Centre should complete the checklist below and follow the process outlined in the Research Centre guidelines:
Review of University Research Centres
All Research Centres will be reviewed annually through a light-touch process that gathers information on strategic aims and significance, the outcomes of recent activities, planned future activities, and any amendments to the governance since the previous review.
Research Centre Directors will be contacted and asked to submit a short annual report via the form below. The review process is outlined in the Research Centre Guidelines:
Contacts
Any queries on Research Centre Governance should be directed to the Secretariat of the University Research Committee:
Carole Harris - Secretary (C.D.Harris@warwick.ac.uk, ext 75733)