Research Centres

Research Centres

During 2021, we undertook a review of research centres across the University and the resulting report is available here. In implementing the recommendations of this report, we invited applications to register as a research centre

Sixty-five centres participated in the registration process and thirty-eight centres have now been approved as full centres with a further eighteen centres in development or redevelopment.

Research Centre Annual Reporting

Recommendation 13 of the 2021 Research centre review process was that each centre should submit an annual report to their (lead) School Director of Research. It is the intention of the Research Centre Oversight Committee that annual reports will be based on routinely collected data from Pure and Worktribe of activities linked to the Centre, along with a brief textual report from the centre Director(s) on main activities and any relevant changes. A draft annual report template is available here.

Research Centre Review

During 2021 we undertook a review of research Centres across the University, the resulting report is available here. In implementing the recommendations of this report we invited applications to register as a research Centre.

Current research Centres and those wishing to establish a new research Centre were required to submit a registration form by 12 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. Our 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). Our infrastructure software to support research (such as Worktribe and Pure) allows activities, such as publications and grants, to be linked to registered research Centres. 

The registration process was alligned to be very similar to that required for the 2021 review. Those 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) were able to opt to apply 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 has now closed, the deadline for registration was 12 December 2022.

Registering as an existing Centre (short application form)

Existing Centres which participated in the 2021 review were asked to seek agreement from the relevant School Director of Research to upload the previous submission and add a small amount of additional information to a short from. Thirty-seven Research Centres completed the registration process in this way.

Registering as an existing Centre (centres that did not complete the 2021 review)

Existing Centres which did not participate in the 2021 review, were asked to register using a long version of the registration form.

Existing Centres which participated in the 2021 review who wanted to provide additional information reflecting changes, growth, and developments since 2021 (including existing Centres in the process of substantial change) were also invited to use the full registration form. Seven research centres utilised the longer registration form.

Registering as a new Centre (new or in-development centres)

Proposed new Centres were asked to complete a full registraton form. New Centres (or existing Centres in the process of substantial change) were invited to register for “Centre in Development” status as part of the process. Nine centres registered as a new Centre or as a Centre in development.