SEEing into the future? Alan Murray. Alan Murray – University of Edinburgh Aim of this session Initial thoughts of a rookie HoS Initial thoughts of a

SEEing into the future?SEEing into the future?

Alan MurrayAlan Murray

Alan Murray – University of EdinburghAlan Murray – University of Edinburgh

Aim of this sessionAim of this session

Initial thoughts of a rookie HoSInitial thoughts of a rookie HoS Aim for transparencyAim for transparency

• If I head in a seemingly bizarre direction …If I head in a seemingly bizarre direction …• You need to know whyYou need to know why

To tell me I’m wrong?To tell me I’m wrong? Or to follow my apparently-bizarre lead?Or to follow my apparently-bizarre lead?

EveryoneEveryone needs to understand the basic needs to understand the basic reasons for school decisions.reasons for school decisions.

““Buy in” is essentialBuy in” is essential• Please attend subsequent “briefings”Please attend subsequent “briefings”


AgendaAgenda

IssuesIssues Problems (primarily our *!?@ budget!)Problems (primarily our *!?@ budget!) Areas for changeAreas for change


IssuesIssues

Development of researchDevelopment of research Development of teachingDevelopment of teaching School ManagementSchool Management

• Line managementLine management• Management of activities and issuesManagement of activities and issues• HR issuesHR issues

Me as HoS … Me as HoS … modus operandum?modus operandum? External links/collaborationExternal links/collaboration The School’s image and ethosThe School’s image and ethos


Development of researchDevelopment of research

Strengthen role of DoResearchStrengthen role of DoResearch• Development plan for RIsDevelopment plan for RIs

Strengthen role of HoRI Strengthen role of HoRI • Development plan for all academicsDevelopment plan for all academics• Part of the appraisal processPart of the appraisal process

Particular issuesParticular issues• InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity• Funding … size of grantsFunding … size of grants• Urgency … we need new activity NOW.Urgency … we need new activity NOW.

Warning …This will be an AFM/SML/TB crusade!


Interdisciplinarity is growing …Interdisciplinarity is growing …

Electrical

Chemical

Mechanical

Electronics

Materials

Environmental

Fire

Civil/Structural Fire

Civil/StructuralFire Safety

Mechanical

Electronics

Materials

Biomedical

Electrical

Mechanical

Chemical

Energy/Power


Grant income by spend/annum

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

£0 <£10000 <£1E+05 <£2E+05 <£2E+05 <£4E+05 <£6E+05 <£1E+06 <£2E+06 <£5E+06 <£1E+07

Nu

mb

er o

f st

aff

IIE

IDCom

IMP

IES

IMNS

SEE Total

Research funding, 2008Research funding, 2008

Almost 25% of school staff,no research income


Research funding, 2008Research funding, 2008Grant income by size of award

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

£0 <£5000 <£50000 <£100000 <£200000 <£400000 <£800000 <£1000000 <£1E+07 <£2E+07 <£0

Nu

mb

er o

f st

aff

Almost 50% of school staff,grants <£50k


Research – a personal viewResearch – a personal view

Choose important topics/projects Choose important topics/projects Seek the funding that they need …Seek the funding that they need …

• To do the work properlyTo do the work properly• Grants do not fail because of an extra £100kGrants do not fail because of an extra £100k• NOW (don’t procrastinate)NOW (don’t procrastinate)• Publish it in the “right” placesPublish it in the “right” places• To disseminate results to the right peopleTo disseminate results to the right people

THEN …THEN … interdisciplinarity/collaboration, RAE/REF metrics, interdisciplinarity/collaboration, RAE/REF metrics,

how much money?how much money?


Research – a personal viewResearch – a personal view

If a project is refused …If a project is refused …• Was it a bad idea?Was it a bad idea?

Bin it.Bin it.

• Good idea, proposal criticised?Good idea, proposal criticised? Improve, polish and get back inImprove, polish and get back in

• As often as is necessaryAs often as is necessary

One of the most important attributes of a One of the most important attributes of a successful research leader is …successful research leader is …

PERSISTENCEPERSISTENCE


Research focus and driveResearch focus and drive

“Blue-sky” science and computation

Modelling

Experiment

Design

Technology

Applications, patents, standards,

spinouts


Development of teachingDevelopment of teaching

MSc coursesMSc courses• Fulfil societal/educational needsFulfil societal/educational needs• As income-generationAs income-generation• PhD-student generationPhD-student generation• More sustainable MScsMore sustainable MScs• More flexible MSc offering (cf Informatics)More flexible MSc offering (cf Informatics)

Undergraduate needsUndergraduate needs• More school-shared teachingMore school-shared teaching

e.g. maths, computing/modellinge.g. maths, computing/modelling

• New coursesNew courses Sustainability/energy/environment?Sustainability/energy/environment?

Warning …This will be yet another AFM crusade!

Warning …This will be another AFM crusade!


Development of teachingDevelopment of teaching

Undergraduate needsUndergraduate needs• Revision of syllabusRevision of syllabus

Start with Electrical/electronicsStart with Electrical/electronics

• Meet professional requirementsMeet professional requirements• New degree streams (eg bioengineering?)New degree streams (eg bioengineering?)• New teaching methodsNew teaching methods

ClickersClickers Teaching studiosTeaching studios New forms of deliveryNew forms of delivery

• e.g. MEng/MSc – “research-reading”?e.g. MEng/MSc – “research-reading”? Improved feedback to studentsImproved feedback to students

• Use of Turnitin - plagiarismUse of Turnitin - plagiarism… crusade!

interesting tension


5 years as HoS,5 years as HoS,then 5 years of normality!then 5 years of normality!

I will remain research-activeI will remain research-active• Large, diverse research groupLarge, diverse research group

Growing, not shrinkingGrowing, not shrinking

• e.g. – neurons-on-silicone.g. – neurons-on-silicon Patent in progressPatent in progress EPSRC (c£1.5M) early 2009, Platform renewal …EPSRC (c£1.5M) early 2009, Platform renewal …

I will remain teaching-activeI will remain teaching-active• I love teaching (!)I love teaching (!)• Students need teachingStudents need teaching• We must ALL contributeWe must ALL contribute


5 years as HoS,5 years as HoS,then 5 years of normality!then 5 years of normality!

I will also continue to play my guitarI will also continue to play my guitar So …So … New management structureNew management structure Delegation (DoT, DoR, HoRIs)Delegation (DoT, DoR, HoRIs) Cancelled outside (work) commitmentsCancelled outside (work) commitments

• For nowFor now Full use of the skills of our admin. teamFull use of the skills of our admin. team

• I am an amateur administratorI am an amateur administrator they are professionals.they are professionals.


Management Committee

StructuresStructures

Head of School

Heads of Research

Institute (5)

Director of Teaching

Director of Research

School Admin Asst (incl PA to

HoS)

School Administrator

College of Science and

Engineering - Registrar

Academic Staff (in 1 of 5 Institutes)

ResearchStaff

(in 1 of 5 Institutes)

Reporting responsibility

Research Support Staff

Teaching Organis.Admini-strator

IT Services Staff

IT Services Manager

Technical Services Manager

Technical Staff

*Research Support

Supervisor (0.5)

TO staff

Finance Admini-strator

FO staff

PGR Admini-strator

PGR staff

Head of Graduate School

4 Heads of Academic Discipline

Working relationship

Depute HoS Depute HoS


HoS “connection” with colleaguesHoS “connection” with colleagues

HoS no longer appraises academicsHoS no longer appraises academics• Disconnected from research issues?Disconnected from research issues?• Disconnected from teaching issues?Disconnected from teaching issues?

Management by drinking coffeeManagement by drinking coffee• I will visit individuals informallyI will visit individuals informally• Start with newer academics/support staffStart with newer academics/support staff


External LinksExternal Links

Edinburgh Research Partnership (ERP)Edinburgh Research Partnership (ERP)• Benefits (some stellar appointments)Benefits (some stellar appointments)• Long-term costs, ?? long-term fundingLong-term costs, ?? long-term funding

ERP Phase#2 – pan-Scotland?ERP Phase#2 – pan-Scotland? Inst. for System-Level Integration (ISLI)Inst. for System-Level Integration (ISLI)

• Long-term funding?Long-term funding?• MSc/Eng Doc/CPD courses?MSc/Eng Doc/CPD courses?

Bio-engineeringBio-engineering• Institute? Centre?Institute? Centre?

Supergen and other large projects?Supergen and other large projects?


SEE/UoE

RAs, equipment …

SEE Income/ExpenditureSEE Income/Expenditure

Student fees

“Overheads”

SFC Teaching money

SFC Research money

Salaries …

£3.4M

£6.5M

£0.7M

£4.3M

£3.2M

Research grants £5.8M

NewStaff

PayAwards

NewStaff?

RAE? Other spend … £1.0M

This is the reason for the 2008 budget position

NewMScs

RaiseSEE’s

game?

Shrink

MScs

£4.9M

£5.5M()

Salaryon

grants

Income: 3.4+0.7+4.3+3.2 → £6.3M (via a set of complex sums!)Expenditure: 4.9+1.0= £5.9M£5.9M is less than £6.3M()

£3.1M

Income: 3.1+0.7+4.3+3.2 → £6.0M (via a set of complex sums!)Expenditure: 5.5+1.0= £6.5M£6.5M is more than £6.0M()

2005-20062008Other income?


Budget hits, 2008Budget hits, 2008

MSc numbers (substantially) downMSc numbers (substantially) down• 2008-9 improvements 2008-9 improvements

New appointments – some very seniorNew appointments – some very senior• Research not yet fully-establishedResearch not yet fully-established

One-off (large) lab setup costsOne-off (large) lab setup costs• Some still to come in 2008-9Some still to come in 2008-9


Budget – we need …Budget – we need …

New MScsNew MScs More ambitious research projectsMore ambitious research projects PI salaries on research grantsPI salaries on research grants

• i.e. 10% of Alan Murray etc.i.e. 10% of Alan Murray etc. Solid undergraduate numbersSolid undergraduate numbers

• Increased overseas student numbersIncreased overseas student numbers• Retention of existing studentsRetention of existing students


Budget – we need …Budget – we need …

New activity from new (+old) colleaguesNew activity from new (+old) colleagues• OverheadsOverheads• PI salary costsPI salary costs• ““QR” funding that accompanies new activityQR” funding that accompanies new activity

Prof Snape, app. 2006Prof Snape, app. 2006• £587k EPSRC, £323k other = £910k £587k EPSRC, £323k other = £910k

Prof Hagrid, app. 2007Prof Hagrid, app. 2007• £1.6M EPSRC, £239 other = £1.8M £1.6M EPSRC, £239 other = £1.8M

Prof Dumbledore, app. some time agoProf Dumbledore, app. some time ago• £2M EPSRC, as PI since 2006 £2M EPSRC, as PI since 2006


PrioritiesPriorities

•Balancing the budget

•Quality/volume/scope ofresearch, teaching & KT

•People


Some HoS dreams …Some HoS dreams …

New degrees and coursesNew degrees and courses• More students, more fun , more moneyMore students, more fun , more money

Therefore more of us as wellTherefore more of us as well

• Politicians/economists/… who understand stuffPoliticians/economists/… who understand stuff New “disruptive” (!) researchNew “disruptive” (!) research

• Bioelectronics/carbon capture … what next?Bioelectronics/carbon capture … what next? Grow support groupsGrow support groups

• Deeper involvement with school businessDeeper involvement with school business Research, teaching … raise quality/quantity of bothResearch, teaching … raise quality/quantity of both e.g. expand technical staff, growing research labse.g. expand technical staff, growing research labs

• Proposals must include tech. supportProposals must include tech. support


Things I like#1Things I like#1Stuff done on time and wellStuff done on time and well

Exam questions correct and promptExam questions correct and prompt• Also markingAlso marking

Proposals well-written and timelyProposals well-written and timely• Support letters at zero notice ≠ high-qualitySupport letters at zero notice ≠ high-quality

Delegated duties “owned” and done wellDelegated duties “owned” and done well• I will not micro-manageI will not micro-manage

Absence of internecine strife(!)Absence of internecine strife(!)• Strife=(TIMEStrife=(TIMEwastedwasted + ENERGY + ENERGYwastedwasted + STRESS) + STRESS)


Things I like#2Things I like#2 Clear communication Clear communication

Many things Many things → HoRI/HoD first→ HoRI/HoD first Admin/finance → Bridgeen/Kathy/CarolineAdmin/finance → Bridgeen/Kathy/Caroline HoS/DoT/DoR → strategy/policyHoS/DoT/DoR → strategy/policy But - a HoS issue will get (HoS)x100% But - a HoS issue will get (HoS)x100% Email is good for information exchangeEmail is good for information exchange

• veryvery bad for debate/argument bad for debate/argument Positive feedback of negativity Positive feedback of negativity No emotional/body language cues

• cc’d emails potentially VERY dangerouscc’d emails potentially VERY dangerous• think before hitting “send”think before hitting “send”


Things I like#3 Things I like#3 Full engagement with School/RI Full engagement with School/RI

We will try to minimise time-wastingWe will try to minimise time-wasting PLEASE attend meetingsPLEASE attend meetings

• Respond to requestsRespond to requests Work with the system, don’t fight itWork with the system, don’t fight itEWTEWT

• There are routes towards changesThere are routes towards changes e.g. e.g. Absence request systemAbsence request system

• Major legal/insurance problems if not usedMajor legal/insurance problems if not used

EWT – enormous waste of timeEWT – enormous waste of time

And finally … what’s in a name?


School ofSchool ofEngineering & ElectronicsEngineering & Electronics

Nice acronym (SEE)Nice acronym (SEE) Unique to UoE?Unique to UoE?

Adopted for not-very-Adopted for not-very-good reasonsgood reasons

UnbalancedUnbalanced• Why single out Why single out

Electronics?Electronics?• What about “Electrical”What about “Electrical”

currents>100mA?currents>100mA?

Clumsy and verboseClumsy and verbose


School ofSchool ofEngineering?Engineering?

Neat and tidyNeat and tidy Acronym OK (SE)Acronym OK (SE)

• Might be mistaken for Might be mistaken for Scottish Enterprise!Scottish Enterprise!

cf Cambridgecf Cambridge

Also cf some lesser Also cf some lesser places!places!

cf old “Division of cf old “Division of Engineering”Engineering”

Not very distinctiveNot very distinctive


School ofSchool ofEngineering Science(s)?Engineering Science(s)?

ConciseConcise cf Oxford and Southamptoncf Oxford and Southampton Acronym OK (SES)Acronym OK (SES) SymmetrySymmetry

• Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences …Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences … Distinctive and balancedDistinctive and balanced

• Engineering=ApplicationsEngineering=Applications• Sciences=FundamentalsSciences=Fundamentals• Emphasises our USP*Emphasises our USP*• Applications + the science that underpins themApplications + the science that underpins them

(*) Unique Selling Point(*) Unique Selling Point

Documents

SEEing into the future? Alan Murray. Alan Murray – University of Edinburgh Aim of this session Initial thoughts of a rookie HoS Initial thoughts of a