The King’s College Policy Institute and RAND Europe have prepared a preliminary analysis for HEFCE, which explores similarities between HEI high-performing research units in the UK.
The report aims to provide strategies for those managing research units. Observational findings, which are to be investigated further – the report suggests, can be found on Page 6 of the document. They identify key characteristics as:
‘A. In high-performing research units more of the staff have PhDs, professorial positions, international experience and externally funded salaries
B. High-performing research units are focused on recruiting the best and retaining them
C. High-performing research units provide training and mentorship programmes to develop staff, while offering rewards for strong performance
D. Staff within high-performing research units display a distinct ethos of social and ethical values
E. The leaders of high-performing research units have earned ‘accountable autonomy’ within their higher education institution
F. High-performing research units have strategies that are real, living and owned, and more than merely a written document
G. High-performing research units receive more income per researcher than the average research unit
H. High-performing research units enable and encourage researchers to initiate collaborations organically as opposed to using a top down approach’
The report concludes with a conceptual model to demonstrate how the key observations highlighted above work together dynamically. They emphasise the importance of recruiting and retaining high-performing individuals for the team, who ideally hold PhDs and have international experience. The research culture, values and leadership further add to the unit’s success.