1.0     Policy Statement

1.1         Consultancy work by University staff is an important strand of the University’s contribution to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the region.  This Policy sets out the conditions under which the University will support and encourage consultancy work and which helps to deliver its strategic objectives and aims as set out in the Corporate Plan.

1.2         The University recognises consultancy activity as an important outlet for the dissemination of its staff expertise in the area of knowledge transfer to the benefit of business and the wider community and encourages its staff to be leaders in the promotion of creativity and innovation through consultancy.

1.3         The social and economic benefit of consultancy activity has the potential to contribute as evidence of impact within the Research Excellence Framework.

1.4         The intellectual and innovation resources of the University are of particular importance to the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in Northern Ireland and the University identifies this as a particular priority within its strategic aims.

1.5          This Policy also sets out how the University will support and reward staff who engage in consultancy work and describes how the consultancy activity will be supported and managed by the Office of Innovation.