ABSTRACT
In some higher education institutions (HEIs), the research planning function sits in the strategy and planning office, often coupled with responsibility for the research excellence framework (REF) submission and alongside the work supporting the size and shape of the institution. In others the research planning function and REF is led through the institution's research office. For a growing number of institutions, the 'standard data-pack' marks a minimum range of metrics. A central aim of institutional research strategies will be to maintain, increase and diversify funding for research. This imperative is driven primarily by the high cost of research, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas, as well as the need to ensure that the activity is sustainable. Collaboration takes many forms and whilst, from a planning perspective, it may be about developing single disciplinary areas, more often at an institutional level we are thinking about how to support or encourage inter- or multi-disciplinary research.
