WERN started in early 2007 as an informal network of active researchers from different institutions in Wales. Its existence was formalised when funding became available from ESRC and HEFCW who were interested in piloting different models for developing research capacity.

Pilot funding was from 1st October 2007 to 30th June 2008. The objectives of the pilot were to build inter-institutional collaboration as a means of developing education research capacity, to test a participative and distributed method of governance, and to trial the effectiveness of different kinds of research building activities such as shared training and research events, a virtual research environment (VRE) and the use of group bursaries to fund collaborative research.

The principal focus was the Group Bursary Scheme which used a social practices approach to develop skills and expertise, providing opportunities for colleagues to work alongside and learn from more expert colleagues.

The pilot has been very successful with a high level of inter-institutional participation and it has resulted in the beginnings of collaborative research clusters in Wales and some meaningful research outputs. To read more about the development and evaluation of WERN please click on WERN Evaluation.

WERN has now had an extension to its funding from HEFCW and the ESRC. It will continue its activity until July 2009. To read more about the development and evaluation of WERN during this period please click on WERN Evaluation.

More information about its funded activities can be found here:
WERN Funding Opportunities for 2008-9.

A copy of the proposal for this period of extension funding can be downloaded here.