JISC

We aim to explore uses of technology to:

1. develop and formalise the application of information systems in the operation of research degree programmes within the University of Bedfordshire to better support, capture and record the research process; and

2. ensure that all of our processes are compliant with the requirements of our external partners.

The Research Graduate School uses the University’s VLE to provide an online space to inform research students of events, and as a repository for forms, guidance and information. We wish to develop this site to improve student services.

We also intend to explore the use of a portfolio-style of approach in the research domain as a means to record student supervisory meetings, and share information, bringing together groups whose personal and work circumstances make it problematic to meet.

The project will build on the tools and experiences existing within existing JISC projects and outcomes relating to the use of portfolio.

Aims and objectives

• To develop the University VLE site as the sole, communal, online research repository for generic resources.
• To explore portfolio-style solutions to the maintenance of student records and for the iterative interaction process between students, their supervisors and research groups.
• To explore managing students so as to ensure they complete the required stages within the correct timeframes, ensuring that projects are progressing and completing in a timely fashion.

We aim to benchmark our approaches against best practice at comparable sites at other HEIs.

Project methodology

The project will be managed by Mark Gamble. He will work closely with Peter Norrington and Mitul Shukla on the day to day running of the project. Peter has extensive experience in the use of portfolio-style online resources and PDP, whilst Mitul has previous experience in JISC projects.

Angus Duncan and Sara Spencer will give clarity to the current student management system and will provide input into the development of improved systems. They also provide an in depth understanding of the reporting requirements to external governmental and funding bodies on student engagement and progress.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

We anticipate that by the end of the project we will:

• Have created an integrated research student management information system.
• Have developed a Research Management System that links the student record system to the institutional repository.
• Have developed a way of providing automated reporting of research student progress and engagement to meet the requirements of external bodies e.g. the UK Border Agency.