SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

MINUTES

Of a meeting of the

Good Practice Activity Group

On Wednesday 10th April, 2013 at 2pm in N08, McClay Research Building

Present:

Dr Marie Migaud

Dr Heather Anderson

Professor Tracy Robson

Dr Susan Fetherston

Dr Deirdre Gilpin

Dr Nicola Goodfellow

Dr Jonathon Coulter

Miss Rachel Bennett

In attendance:

Mrs Jean Young

Miss Claire Lyttle

  1. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from:

Dr S Pentlavalli

Dr I Tikhonova

Ms F Hughes

Ms J Barry

Dr M Hall

Dr L A Hanna

Dr L Carson

Ms L McClements

  1. MINUTES

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

  1. ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Postdoctoral Society and Website

  • Dr Fetherston reported that she had spoken to Professor Malcolm regarding the setting up of a Postdoctoral Website. Funding from the Research, Training and Development Fund will be applied for before the deadline of 4th May. She also confirmed that she will continue to liaise with Professor Malcolm and Mr Paul Monaghan regarding the Postdoc Website and Society.

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

  • Dr Migaud reported that the feedback she had received following the REF update on 6thMarch, was very positive and that the Post Docs and PhDs who attended found it useful. Discussion followed on the future outcome of REF and on the forwarding of the information to Staff and Post Docs.

Funding and Grants

  • There was discussion on Postdocs attending a talk by Dr Lepecuchel, the University EU Research Manager. It was noted that the majority of PDRAs in attendance were female. The School Manager highlighted the possibility of obtaining EU funding for a Guest Speaker to give a Career Development Talk.

Career Development

  • The career development of Postdocs and PhDs and a variety of possible Guest Speakers to be invited to give career talks, was looked at. The benefit of moving and gaining experience in different Institutions was highlighted. The value of talks from HR specialists outside the University was explored.

Welcome Packs for new Postdocs

  • Dr Fetherston and Dr Goodfellow confirmed that provision of the Welcome Pack is on-going. The Welcome Pack will be made available on Sharepoint. At present Dr Fetherston provides Dr Anderson with an updated list of Postdocs on a monthly basis, the details of the list will be used to email the information to the new starts. Professor Robson asked that Academic staff be made aware once the Welcome Packs are available.

Action: Office Staff will make Academic Staff aware of the availability of Welcome Packs

Postgraduate Forum

  • Miss Rachel Bennett reported on the continuing disappointing response from PGR Students. Previously a questionnaire had been sent to all PGR students to gauge response to the School providing a Postgraduate Forum. This would enable PGR students to discussissues such as training requirements and future employment. The GPA Group discussed Postgraduate training opportunities, such as STEM Ambassadors training and alsoPGR student attendance at Seminars and Presentations. Group members felt that it would be appropriate to ask the Head of School to intervene.

Action: Professor Robson and Miss Bennett will discuss this with Professor Hughes

Action: Dr Anderson will meet with Professor Hughes and Dr McCarthy regarding changes to the Postgraduate Induction Session in September.

The PGR Committee will discuss revamping the Induction for PhD’s

  • Feedback from Presentations – The various ways of providing feedback to the Speaker were discussed. Preference for a focused feedback from the Chair was deemed better by the Presenters.

Action: Miss Rachel Bennett will contact Professor McCoy regarding the talks

PROMOTION PROFILE AND EFFECTIVE APPRAISAL

  • Dr Anderson and Professor Robson confirmed that these matters were raised at the Senior Management Board. Staff Appraisers will need to state on the Appraisal Form that promotion has been discussed at the Appraisal.
  • Dr Coulter asked for clarification on the issue of Discretionary Points for AC2 scale for Postdocs. Dr Henderson confirmed that it depends if the staff are research funded or University employed. The University may pay a discretionary award as a one off payment, it is not consolidated.

SWAN APPLICATION SURVEY

  • Dr Fetherston said that she had been in contact with Dr Hall regarding the template for the Swan Application Survey. Nothing further to report at this time.
  1. OTHER BUSINESS

Defining achievable goals for Postdocs

  • Discussion on the need to define goals as a School, this would also be useful for Appraisal.

Action: Dr Migaud will circulate document from CCRCB which defines what is expected of their Postdocs and what is defined as a reasonable body of work.

Research Academics

  • There was discussion on the value of mentoring to the School. Dr Migaud said that she had discussed this and how best Mentors could be acknowledged for the time involved, with the Head of School.

SWAN application process

  • Dr Migaud explained that a format will come on line soon for a new version of the SWAN application. Discussion followed on data acquisition, and development of the SWAN web site. There was discussion on the proposed membership of the Self-Assessment Team for SWAN. Once the relevant data is collated the first meeting of the SWANSelf-Assessment Team will be convened. This will make recommendations to the SMB and will feed into the Action Plan.

Action: Dr Migaud will contact Professor Malcolm regarding the subscription

Action: Dr Anderson will contact with Professor Malcolm and Mark McCalmont regarding the licence.

DATE AND TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 12th June 2013 at 2 pm in Room NO9

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