1909 2009

1. ‘Winning funding: a problem or panacea?’AESOP Young Academics RoundtableSimon Pemberton Department of Civic DesignUniversity of LiverpoolUK 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

2. Context • Director of Merseyside Social Inclusion Observatory (MSIO) based within Dept of Civic Design since 2004. • Initial funding predominantly externally driven (EU). • Outputs externally driven (public sector). • But need to generate sustainability (based at University and accountable body). • Need to generate academic outputs (UoL; RAE 2008). • But policy relevant reports required and dissemination strand (time; broader relevance). • Need to be ‘inward’ and ‘outward’ looking. 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

3. Winning funding – some top tips (1) • Be aware of the broader context for your research interests – policy; academic etc. • Explore funding opportunities of relevance to each. • Research Councils (e.g. ESRC), charities, public sector (local government / governance), University support, relevant networks (e.g. ESPON, MnFE) , key journals (Regen and Renewal/ newspapers (The Guardian – Society - tender opportunities). • Collaborations with other HEIs (regional, national, international). • Collaboration with private sector consultancies. • Collaborative bids – younger and senior; interdisciplinary. 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

4. Winning funding – some top tips (2) • Think carefully about the way in which funding applications need to be crafted – academic applicability and policy relevance. • Latter increasingly emphasized – impact plans / strategies. • Have one aim and limit your objectives / key questions. • Think also about user participation in research. • Think about dissemination plans and be innovative. • Be very specific with funding breakdown and research ‘phases’. 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

5. Winning funding – some top tips (3) • For consultancy opportunities, think carefully about relevance to current research: • Does it link broadly to my current research / expertise? • Could I utilise some of my existing knowledge / research to help deliver the project? • Is there the possibility to add in / expand some of the questions of relevance to your own personal research interests? • Do you have the ability to utilise some of the work for academic purpose? – should be written into some type of Service Level Agreement (SLA). 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

6. Winning funding – some top tips (4) • Be aware of the implications of FEC and ‘top slicing’ – is it worth doing the work? • Some institutions make a fundamental distinction between ‘research’ projects and ‘consultancy’ projects – can make a difference to the rates / overheads applied. • Could you adapt the outcomes to suit an academic audience? • Can the work lead to broader impact rather than only of locally specific interest? 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school

7. Conclusion – my experiences! • Funding external to University and non-research council initially takes emphasis away from academic publication. • Any type of event / dissemination programme takes huge amounts of effort and time – piggy back others. • Decision taken 18-20 months in to focus on writing up initial policy reports for academic audience. Earlier in retrospect? • Was able to draw upon other members of team to support – not ideal if working alone. • Be sure any consultancy has wider applicability. • Try and apply research to teaching contexts – helps with departmental integration. • Draw a line on what is / isn’t acceptable in respect of time input / resource output (amount / duration). 1909 2009 Civic Design The world’s first university planning school