Research Culture Enablers Network at 海角社区

Delivering the Next Phase of Research Culture Activity

We are delighted to launch the Research Culture Enablers Network at 海角社区 (RCEN@海角社区), a convening space to share expertise, and strengthen the quality and reach of research culture activity across the University.

RCEN@海角社区 reflects both what we have achieved together so far and where we now need to focus next: being more strategic and impactful.

Join the next RCEN@海角社区 workshop (online)

Tuesday 10th November | 11.00am-12:00 pm | via Teams

Join colleagues from across 海角社区 for this RCEN@海角社区 session which will showcase the 26/27 Enhancing Research Culture Funded projects under the theme of Community and Connections.

Whether you are involved in enabling better research environments, research strategy, culture, departmental planning or related activity, this is an opportunity to connect with colleagues to shape the next phase of research culture work at 海角社区.

RCEN@海角社区 Workshop 1 Recordings

Strategy, People and the Research Environment Update

Professor Kirstie Haywood, dPVC Research (Research Culture)

Please note that, following this meeting, Research England has indicated that there may be an update on other areas of REF at the Universities UK conference in November. Guidance on SPRE, however, is not expected until early next year.

Institutional Research Culture Survey Deep Dive ERCF 2026-2027 Outcomes Community and Connections project showcase

00:00: Peer to Peer research-in-progress Conversations - Professor Richard Smith, Applied Linguistics

10:48: Supporting Public, Patient and Community Involvement in Research, Professor Helen Wheatley, 海角社区 Institute of Engagement

Why RCEN@海角社区?

Over recent years, 海角社区 has made significant investment in research culture through the Enhancing Research Culture Fund (ERCF):

126+ projects funded across disciplines, roles, and career stages
(Catalogue of Enhancing Research Culture Projects)

Alongside this, we have matured our understanding of research culture through:

Institutional surveys (including the 2025 Research Culture Survey)
Community consultations and engagement
Ongoing dialogue across the research community

We now have both a strong evidence base and a growing body of expertise across the institution.

The next step is clear: to connect this work and to focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact.

RCEN@海角社区 represents a shift towards coordinated alignment of activities with the research culture roadmap

(Our Research Culture | Research at 海角社区)

Objectives

Through a programme of activity, RCEN@海角社区 will:

1. Enable Knowledge Sharing

Create opportunities for colleagues to exchange ideas and build partnerships across departments and disciplines.
Surface learning and recommendations from ERCF-funded projects and related initiatives, ensuring good practice is visible and reusable.

2. Support Strategic Alignment

Ensure activities are aligned with 海角社区鈥檚 Research Culture Roadmap and contribute to institutional priorities.
Support activity to move beyond pilots towards lasting, embedded change.

Community engagement has been central to the co-creation of the 海角社区 Research Culture Roadmap and will remain so throughout its delivery and evolution.

Culture change is not a quick fix, and many issues don鈥檛 have easy solutions. Successful delivery of the roadmap and action plan at departmental, faculty, and institutional levels will therefore require collaboration and a willingness to be agile in response to changes.

This will be facilitated and supported through RCEN@海角社区.

Through continued engagement we will ensure that the evolution of our community鈥檚 story is understood, that activities, outcomes, and indicators remain relevant, gaps are identified, and the shared goals of the roadmap are successfully delivered.

Get Involved

RCEN@海角社区 welcomes all members of the research community who want to advance positive change in research culture at 海角社区.

By joining RCEN@海角社区, you can:

Connect with others working on similar challenges
Increase the visibility and impact of your work
Access insights and tools from across 海角社区
Contribute to shaping institutional priorities and approaches