The REF: Results of Pilots and Future Developments

I recently attended a one day programme organised by Kings College London on The REF: Results of Pilots and Future Developments. Supported by HEFCE, the day gave those involved, and not involved, with the pilot alike the opportunity to learn more about the planned direction of the REF. The day consisted of a number of presentations to all delegates in the morning including two speakers from HEFCE, with parallel sessions on various related topics running in the afternoon.

A large emphasis within the REF Pilot had been on citation analysis, with debate circulating as to the use of such analyses to replace the peer review process used previously within the RAE. What papers would be considered within the REF was also the subject of debate with the pilot considering three possible methods of identifying academic’s papers for citation analysis (as explained to the WRN at this month’s Gregynog Colloquium Repository Stream by Lyndsey Savage, Bangor University): all academic papers identified by author’s name; all academic papers by author’s institutions; selection of academic papers for authors.

From attending the London event, it seems that the REF will bear a resemblance to the previous RAE, with a selection of an author’s best papers being put forward for peer- review assessment, and the citation analysis for each paper being provided to inform the panel. What still remains unclear is which sources will be used to inform the citation analysis. Web of Science and SCOPUS were both used within the pilot but concern was expressed by a number of delegates within one of the parallel sessions I attended that their institution either subscribed to one service or the other, and not both. The use of Open Access sources such as repositories was not going to be used to gather citation analyses as far as I could tell from discussions.

The assessment of ‘impact’ of research will also form part of the REF, a factor that none of the discussions I'd heard previously had even considered. How institutions will construct, record and store such information along with the author data, the research ouput data and the citation data is a new challenge to be met.

The use of repositories for the management of such information to construct an REF return was touched upon. Two JISC projects presented in one of the afternoon sessions were R4R (Readiness for REF) and a project at the University of Reading, with both looking specifically at how a repository can be developed for this purpose.

The second afternoon session I attended ‘ICT implications for the REF,’ discussed research conducted on behalf of JISC that surveyed REF pilot institutions as to their use of ICT in preparing information for the pilot. The study found that the use of ICT was varied between each institution, and that institutions would have to develop much better processes for capturing research outputs, the crux point for all being trying to successfully link research output data to staff data.

A number of systems were being used within the institutions of the attendant delegates, with both research management systems and repositories in place. A second JISC study, ‘Repositories and Research Management Systems,’ found minimal integration between the two systems or their processes when in place within an institution. Some of the newly funded JISC projects, including Cardiff University’s I-WIRE project, which are looking as to how such systems can be integrated were presented on the day.

There were around 300 delegates in attendance on the day and it was interesting to see the variety of job titles; with a large majority either affiliated with the research office, the library or the repository. This highlighted to me the number of stakeholders involved in an institution with an RAE/ REF return and brought home further the need for not only integration between disparate systems but collaboration between disparate departments.

ETSY-ing... photo session TRIAL#1

upcoming ETSY-ing... trial photo-shoot w jorgebnyc

Okay... EXPLANATION:

I'm starting an ETSY.com SHOP...and these are some of the products I will be selling. I've asked my uncle to help me out by being the official photographer and so we did a test-run last night. I need to figure out what background works best, do they look good with the ball of jute? does it look too "tacky"/homemade with my hand in the pic? I need to choose which work better and then edit them and put them on the ETSY.page with each listed item. I also need more detail shots: like the inside of the headband, zooms on the beadwork and on the specific words shown... Commments, reccommendations...CRITIQUEs!!! please and thank you!

la pinta.la niña. y la sta. maría!!!

group shot- background A

group shot- background B

group shot- background C

diademita1: la primogénita

this is is the first one i made. w. hand made paper(from the paper shredder) beads wrapped with 3 colored metal-copper, silver and gold-they resemble little flowers. covered w collage-ed paper(numbers)and finished w a sage/turquoise grosgrain ribbon. decorated w glass beads and translucent sequins.

diademita2: JUEVES.jueves.GIOVEDIgiovedí.Thursday.THURSDAY.thursday-ita

my second child. flowers cut out from milk carton. held by molded(swirls/leaves)copper wire.covered w collage-ed paper(THURSDAY,GIOVedí.JUEVES)and finished w champagne colored grosgrain ribbon. decorated w glass beads+translucent sequins and a red.wooden.half.bead on one side.

i love how weird this pic. looks!

diademita3: theNEWyork.newyork.NEW YORK-er

my last baby. flowers cut out from milk carton AND hand made paper(from the paper shredder) beads wrapped with silver metal wire. covered w collage-ed paper(says NEW YORK)and finished w a dark plum grosgrain ribbon. decorated w glass beads and translucent sequins.held by molded(swirls/leaves)copper wire.

natural disasters: DIORAMA of human susceptibility

Gregynog 2009 - Presentations now available

The presentations from the repositories strand held at the recent Gregynog Colloquium 2009 are now available online:

• 'Copyright & Repositories' Jackie Knowles, WRN Presentation slides
  
  
• 'Multimedia Deposits: Complications and Considerations' HannahPayne, WRN Presentation slides
  
  
• 'EThOS and the Aberystwyth Experience’ Dr. Nicky Cashman, Aberystwyth University Presentation slides
  
  
• ‘Repository@Bangor and the REF pilot’ Lyndsey Savage, Bangor University Presentation slides
  
  
• ‘Integrating ORCA: Cardiff University's journey to an institutional repository with a service oriented approach’ Tracey Andrews, Cardiff University Presentation slides
  
  
• ‘Repository Management: the University of Liverpool experience’ Shirley Yearwood- Jackman, University of Liverpool Presentation slides
  
  
• ‘The Welsh Repository Network: Where do we go from here?’ Jackie Knowles, WRN Presentation slides
  
  
• 'Repositories and JISC' Andy MacGregor, JISC Presentation slides

The WRN team would like to extend their thanks to both the presenters and the participants attending the strand whose enthusiasm and hard work contributed to the success of the event. The extended two day programme we offered this year proved to be well justified with excellent attendance across the board. If anyone has any queries about any of the sessions, or if you would like follow up on any particular topic, then please do not hesitate to contact the team using the usual address.

mundillando:the enigma of a contemporary tejedora

mundillando. fashion ART. CONCEPT II

inspired by the traditional lacemaking technique of

 Puerto Rico:Mundillo, and the culture behind it. 

i explored the enigma of a contemporary tejedora.

Los Padres Foundation 2007-2008

I am a Los Padres Foundation Tuition Assistance Scholarship recipient... every year we are required to renew our scholarship documentation and certify that we have contributed significantly to our community as per our "contract"...

The experience and knowledge I have acquired in college has assisted me in the pursuit of my goals and aspirations as well as in the development of my community simultaneously. The more complete, skilled and successful I become, the more wise and capable I am to contribute to the development of my community.

This past year and a half I have volunteered with various organizations, mostly with Student Life department at FIT but not limited to it as I have also worked with Garden In Transit, Gen Art and NY Blood Donors. Volunteering has helped me become a more well-rounded individual by allowing me to meet and establish relationships with people for reasons other than my major, by connecting me to my community, and making me aware of the needs and strengths of others; by exposing me to new challenges and experiences.

Student Life helps us develop a more involved student body that feels like a community. At a city “campus” where commuter students form most of our population, it takes a big effort to have that college spirit. Wanting to be a part of that effort, I was chosen to be one of three coordinators. I never thought I would do this in college; it has been such an honor to be leader of a program that does so much for students. It aids a great deal specially for those who are far away from home, or by themselves- it builds community! We are like a family of people that are trying to better this world.

We are the mediators between the authority and the disoriented, help-needing student. I have gone through it, and now know how to solve the problems. In orientation week this past august, I helped a girl from Puerto Rico by pointing her to the right people at the right time. To be able to change someone’s life radically –to save them the frustrations and a year of college, and encourage them to get involved and reach out is incredibly rewarding.

In my involvement with the Latin American Student Organization, I have showcased our diverse Latino talent and promoted awareness of our culture. From Capoeira performances, to alerting, and informing our peers about the Women of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to a Fashion Show and the organization another one just for Latino students, and Hands on NY Day, where we painted a mural at a middle school in the Bronx and bonded with the students. 

I was also recommended to attend the NY Model Senate Session Project, being the only representative from FIT. I gave the opening debate speech at the senate chamber and was part of the democratic minority party that for the first time in 12 years convinced 5 people from the opposing party. I never thought I would be delivering a speech at the Senate Chamber in Albany NY!

Not only has it been amazing to do community service-but in doing that, I have grown so much. I have become more successful. Yes, being an accomplished individual helps me HELP my community, by helping my community I thrive to revolutionize, and make a difference, generate positive change. A little bit of extra effort and time, just as the Foundation has done with us, it is our responsibility to give back, to share the knowledge. Los Padres  has allowed me to have a better future, and I hope to do the same for others.