Applied research & consultancy

Coventry University’s research is focused on the application and usefulness of our research and knowledge transfer activities. Rather than undertaking research for research sake we look to staff to demonstrate their authority to teach by applying their research to solve interesting problems for the wider community. These statements describe the core principle of the University’s 2010 Applied Research Strategy.

Coventry University has a long tradition of undertaking applied research and consultancy to meet the needs of local, national and international clients. Founded as an industrial University it originally focused on the needs of major multinational manufacturing companies such as Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Land Rover and Ford.

The University continues this tradition and has been widely recognised for the high quality of its Applied Research and its application in the real-world. However, today we undertake applied research activity in practically every subject area. From art to design, health to sports, regeneration to human security, mathematics to engineering and computing to communications, staff are encouraged to apply their knowledge and skills in the external world.

• Traditional research activities;
• External funding to support activities, projects or near-market research and development supported by RAE funding, research councils, private, public, voluntary or charity sector organisations;
• Pedagogical research and related curriculum developments;
• All forms of knowledge exploitation eg spin-outs, patents, licensing deals and joint ventures;
• Consultancy and the provision of advanced facilities and services to external organisations;
• Advanced level “closed” short courses and continuing professional development activities.

Applied research often draws on the expertise from more than one academic area thereby providing the ability to tackle complex problems outside the scope of an individual consultant or researcher. The University can draw on the skills, expertise and knowledge of over 1,000 academic and technical staff to undertake research and consultancy activities. These staff are based in academic Faculties and Departments. However, we also have a number of Applied Research Groups (ARGs) and Applied Research Centres (ARCs) which undertake specialist or inter-disciplinary research and consultancy.

Applied research activity is disseminated through publications in national and international conferences, journals, reports, designs, works of art, patents and products. In an average year this output exceeds 1,000 individual items. Funding for the University's applied research activities comes from a variety of sources including industry, Government Agencies and Departments, the European Union, charities and the Research Councils.

The 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) reviewed the quality of research in all UK Universities. Units of Assessment (UoA) are judged on the basis of the quality of their research. The 7 point scale ranges from 1 to 5* with 5* being given to UoA achieving the highest level of international quality.

Grading of 4 was achieved by:

• Metallurgy and Materials
• Politics and International Studies
• Design Institute

Grading of 3a was achieved by:

• Other Studies and Professions Allied to Medicine
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics and Operational Research
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Geography
• Creative Practice

Grading of 3b was achieved by:

• Built Environment
• Social Work
• Communication, Cultural and Media Studies
• Education

The University's median grade is now 3a in comparison to the 2 it received in the 1996 RAE. In the same period, the proportion of researchers returned as part of the RAE working at a national or international level increased from 47% to 80%.

All human subject related research is approved by Coventry University’s Ethics Committee before any work is undertaken. Further details can be viewed in the Ethics Committee Statement.