Prof. Karl Dayson FHEA, FRSA, is the Dean of Research at the University Salford. Karl’s role incorporates the strategic direction of research at Salford, the Research Excellence Framework submission, and development of a successful and vibrant postgraduate research community. He also manages the Research and Knowledge Exchange team. Previous roles include: Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) in the School of Arts and Media, Deputy head of the School of Humanities, Languages and the Social Sciences, and Director of Sociology and Criminology Directorate.
An economic sociologist Karl’s research has focused on alternative forms of finance and issues related to financial inclusion. His PhD was on the paradox of the simultaneous demutualisation of building societies and mutualisation of financial inclusion, which led to the creation of Community Finance Solutions (CFS), a research and development unit within the university. Much of his early work was around community owned finance bodies and the creation of a dozen Community Development Finance Institutions in England. These organisations sought to address access to finance issues faced by SMEs and households within some of the poorest areas in country. The activity involved worked closely with Barclays and Lloyds banks, the Bank of England and officials from H.M. Treasury and the Financial Services Authority. Karl and CFS were recognised for their ground-breaking work with the award of the Times Higher Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community in 2005.
In 2008, with Pål Vik, he won the European Microfinance Networks, Research Paper of the Year for their research on sustainability of microfinance institutions. This led to work for the European Commission on the future of microcredit across the continent and the production of the ‘European Code of Conduct for Microcredit Providers in Europe’ in 2011 and subsequent work on the methodology and implementation of the Code. Today Karl sits on the Code’s Steering Committee along with colleagues from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. It was this work that was submitted as an impact case study in REF2014.
