Those of you involved in research will not need me to remind you that research is an increasingly competitive business. The trend towards rewarding quality in research inevitably means that funding organisations are becoming far more selective in where they invest their money. The more successful universties will be those most able to demonstrate quality allied to a determination to succeed and a professional approach towards research, both pure and applied.
South Bank intends to be one of the best research universities in the new universities sector.
A number of research initiatives have been implemented over the last twelve months, including the appointment of sixteen professors, the establishment of a University Research Committee and the setting up of a dedicated Research Office to handle the University's research funding applications. These are already beginning to yield positive results. This document defines South Bank University's research policy through to the turn of the millennium. Our research plans may be ambitious, but I believe they are achievable. If we are to succeed, considerable hard work, together with the commitment and cooperation of staff at all levels, will be required.