The University hosts over 50 Research Centres, bringing scholars together to interrogate thematic questions, often across disciplines. They are an important and thriving part of the research culture at Aberdeen, allowing new research questions to be shaped, providing a network for colleagues to exchange ideas, and supporting lectures, exhibitions and public engagement.
As part of the 2021 Research Centre review it was agreed that each Centre should submit an annual report to the Research Centre Oversight Committee. The current round of annual reporting will take place in August/September 2026 utilising automated approaches where possible to mitigate workload pressures.
- Research Centre Annual Reporting
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As part of the 2021 Research Centre review it was agreed that each Centre should submit an annual report to the Research Centre Oversight Committee. The next round of annual reporting will take place in August/September 2026, utilising automated reports where possible to minimise workload and reporting burden.
Centre reports consist of four elements, with several elements automated from the University's research systems, Worktribe and Pure.
- Research applications and awards report from Worktribe (automated)
- Publication activity report from Pure (automated)
- Update/review of current staff affiliated to the centre
- A short report outlining the main activities and any relevant changes of the centre including, but not limited to, areas of resource and governance, external engagement and recognition, and PGR activity (An AI generated highlight report, based on data from Centre webpages will be provided to Centres to assist in the generation of the short report)
Activity reports for centres covering research grants and publications will be made available via a Power BI dashboard in August 2026 and highlight reports will be shared with centres as part of the notification of the reporting requirement for 2026.
All Centres will be asked to provide an update or review of current staff affiliated to the centre (element 3) and complete the short report outlining activity and relevant changes (element 4). These elements should be emailed to researchreporting@abdn.ac.uk no later than 30 September 2026
During academic year 2026/27 existing Centres registered as 'in development' or 're-development' will also be asked to complete a short registration form Research Centre registration form, full centre status to review centre status. This should ideally be submitted alongside the annual report no later than 30 September 2026, however if centres require additional time to prepare for status review, registrations can be accepted up to 30 June 2027.
Schools will be asked to evaluate Registered Centres that are in development, or re-development, and provide a recommended status based on the registration form, recommendations will be sent to the Research Centre Oversight Committee for approval. Successful registrations will be advised to Centre Directors, Schools, and the University Research Committee. The Research Centre Oversight Committee aims to process registrations for full centre status within six weeks of receiving recommendations from Schools.
Registered Centres that are no longer active should email researchreporting@abdn.ac.uk to allow us to update relevant research systems.
Information for groups wishing to register as a new Centre is available in the next tab.
- Registering as a new Centre
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Groups wishing to register as a new Centre should:
- Compile a list of grants or other income relevant to the work of the centre in the previous year.
- Compile a list of publications from the previous year, relevant to the work of the proposed centre, by staff who would be affiliated to the centre.
- Complete the Research Centre registration form, new centres
- email the completed form to researchreporting@abdn.ac.uk with the Subject heading "Research centre registration, new centre"
There is no registration deadline for new research centres, the registration process is open between September and June each year.
The form asks a series of questions to help reviewers understand if the proposed research centre meets the criteria as set out in the 2021 Research Centre review:
- a defined research strategy
- a critical mass of researchers
- events and outputs to deliver on the centre strategy
- demonstration of the benefits of Centre status (such as leverage of funds).
Completed registration forms will be sent to Schools for review; the form along with feedback from Schools will be sent to the Research Centre Oversight Committee; successful registrations will be advised to Centre Directors, Schools, and the University Research Committee.
The Research Centre Oversight Committee aims to process registrations for new centres within six weeks of receiving feedback from Schools.
- Research Centre Profiles
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The communications team are keen to raise the profile internally and externally of our Research Centres. You can boost the profile of your Research Centre by taking a photo of your team, or a photo that represents your research, and answering a few simple questions.
Getting to Know - Research Centre template
- Who's in the Centre?
- What does the Centre do?
- Why is it important?
- What are some of your big projects or activities right now?
- Any other key takeaways about your Centre?
- What's the best thing about being part of the Centre?
When you have the answers to the above questions, please:
- provide a photograph of your team alongside your article. This can be taken on a smart phone but needs to be of reasonable quality. Please avoid sending photos in which any faces are obscured.
- send your completed article and photograph to communications@abdn.ac.uk
- ensure that your writing is easy to read and understand. Please note that communications team may make minor amendments to articles for layout, style and ease of communication with readers.
Completed articles will be posted on StaffNet and shared in the weekly staff ezine, StaffNet News. A link to past examples of Getting to Know team profiles can be found on the getting to know you archive
- Research Centre Review 2021
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During 2021 the University of Aberdeen undertook a review of research Centres, the resulting report is available here: 2021 Research Centre review. In implementing the recommendations of the report we invited existing centres and groups to register as recognised Research Centres.
Current research Centres and those wishing to establish a new research Centre were required to submit a registration form in December 2022. Research Centres were in most cases proposed by a single School (even if members came from Schools outside the host School) but in cases where they were proposed by more than one School, a lead School was identified. Prior to registering, directors of existing or new Centres were strongly encouraged to speak with the relevant School Director of Research. The Aberdeen 2040 Interdisciplinary Research Themes were not included in this process.
The Research Centre Review established that research Centres are expected to have a research strategy; a critical mass of researchers; hold events to deliver on their strategy; and be able to demonstrate the benefits of Research Centre status. It is expected that a Research Centre would deliver on priorities within the research strategy of the proposing School(s).
Centre registration provides access to common resources (such as IT support for establishing the structure of web pages). Systems to support research (Worktribe and Pure) allow activities, such as publications and grants, to be linked to registered Research Centres.
The registration process was aligned to be similar to that required for the 2021 review. Centres which took part in the review, and where there were no substantial issues raised, had the option of using the previously supplied information as part of this registration process. Alternatively they were able to submit an updated registration form. For new Centre proposals or existing Centres which did not participate in the 2021 review, they were asked to submit a full registration form. New Centres (or existing Centres in the process of substantial change) could register for “Centre in Development” status. Where awarded it is expected that research Centre status would normally be held for a period of 5 years. For those awarded “Centre in Development” status, a timetable for becoming a research Centre will be agreed. Only research Centres whose registration is approved will be recognised as such from April 2023 onwards.
The registration process closed in December 2022. Sixty-five centres participated in the registration process; thirty-eight centres were approved as full centres with a further eighteen centres registered as in development or redevelopment.