A unique service for researchers in smaller and specialist universities and colleges is being launched today (4th March 2019) at the British Library. 

GuildHE Research (previously known is as CREST – the Consortium for Research Excellence, Support, and Training) will provide tailored services which recognise that excellent research in smaller and specialist higher education institutions are more easily overlooked and researchers more isolated compared to research in larger, multi-faculty organisations.

Chief Executive of GuildHE Gordon McKenzie said:

“The launch of “GuildHE Research” is more than a change in name; it marks GuildHE’s renewed commitment to promote and champion the transformative and outstanding research which takes place in smaller and specialist universities and colleges throughout the UK.

Research and innovation are important elements of the successful delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy and GuildHE Research will shine a light on the excellent, high impact research in our smaller and specialist universities and colleges.”

GuildHE Research will build on CREST’s work, which has been growing for almost a decade to include 29 institutions across diverse disciplines, from art and design to agricultural sciences, from education to osteopathy.

Services include enabling peer-to-peer support for researchers and their teams to develop useful collaborations, effective research strategies and sharing good practice. Other popular benefits include a residential PhD Summer School, virtual doctoral training, and a shared open access repository.

Prof. Peter Childs, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Newman University and inaugural Director of GuildHE Research said:

‘With so much happening in the Higher Education landscape today, the introduction of GuildHE Research will greatly enhance both the broader research culture and the islands of excellence within our network of small and specialist institutions.

The consortium gives them a superb platform from which to reach a larger audience and collaborate effectively to further promote a full and truly distinctive contribution to UK research and scholarship.’

Universities and colleges who may be interested in joining GuildHE Research or would just like to know more should contact research@guildhe.ac.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

GuildHE is the official voice of small and specialist higher education in the UK. It champions a diverse higher education sector and its members include universities, university colleges, further education colleges and specialist institutions from both the traditional and private sectors. Member institutions include some major providers in professional subject areas including art, design and media, music and the performing arts; agriculture and food; education; maritime; health and sports. GuildHE member institutions have a particular focus on providing technical, professional and vocational higher education.

GuildHE Research is the new name for CREST, the Consortium for Research Excellence, Support and Training, and is the research consortium for smaller and specialist universities and colleges in the UK.

Our vision is to be a consortium that engages the full diversity of our institutions, people, and places in research and innovation, and which successfully promotes and advocates for the recognition and support of excellent research wherever it is found.

Our mission is to achieve influence in policy through GuildHE, specifically highlighting the types of research, disciplines, and methodologies in which our members specialise and demonstrate excellence. We help our members to embed a positive research culture, develop robust research and innovation strategies, and establish appropriate infrastructure through which they can drive forward their ambitions.
For more information and details of our activities and members visit www.research.guildhe.ac.uk