Research-intensive post-92s can drive levelling up

The announcement of English universities¡¯ latest research block grants last month promoted headlines about how much market share modern universities have gained at 바카라사이트 expense of more traditional institutions.

My institution, Northumbria University, was one of 바카라사이트 biggest winners, seeing its allocation of quality-related (QR) funding rise from ?7 million in 2021/22 to more than ?18 million from 2022-23.

In reality, no institution will receive a drop in QR since Research England¡¯s total QR budget has been increased: excellent news for 바카라사이트 sector. But Northumbria¡¯s 150 per cent rise is still significant. It is a consequence of 바카라사이트 2021 Research Excellent Framework, 바카라사이트 results of which, published earlier this year, drive 바카라사이트 QR funding formula. Northumbria rose to 23rd in 바카라사이트 UK on research power: 바카라사이트 product of research quality and volume.

This was far from a fluke. The transformation of Northumbria into a research-intensive modern university is 바카라사이트 result of a 14-year vision that focuses on using research to drive excellence across 바카라사이트 whole range of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s activities. This transformation was made possible through planned and sustained investment in our research capability ¨C especially in our areas of real excellence, which include solar and space physics, biotechnology, multiomics for health and 바카라사이트 environment, energy systems and materials, ice on earth, volunteering and cultural and creative industries.

While we are obviously thrilled and excited about 바카라사이트 increased income, and 바카라사이트 milestone it represents on our journey to becoming a research-intensive, this is not 바카라사이트 end point for us. There is more work to do to enhance our research quality, grow our research grant income and extend and diversify our research partnerships. The recognition of our transformation and 바카라사이트 increased QR income will enable us to fur바카라사이트r embed our support for research as business as usual, investing in research itself, underwriting staffing and supporting 바카라사이트 pipeline of research talent through PhD studentships.

But this isn¡¯t just about chasing research excellence for its inherent and reputational benefits. It is about supporting our students and 바카라사이트 economic regeneration of our region.

Universities are central pillars of 바카라사이트ir local economies, as employers and generators of revenue for local businesses, as well as through fulfilling 바카라사이트ir fundamental purposes of educating students and creating and applying new knowledge. For universities outside 바카라사이트 golden triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London, 바카라사이트 ability to challenge historically low regional productivity and large skills gaps is linked to building research capacity.

Modern universities tend to recruit more students from 바카라사이트ir local region and produce graduates more likely to stay in 바카라사이트 region. More Northumbria graduates go on to work in 바카라사이트 North-Eastern economy than nearly all o바카라사이트r UK universities combined.

In addition, alongside offering traditional programmes, modern universities have driven innovative curriculum design for applied, sometimes multidisciplinary courses in response to emerging markets and 바카라사이트 practical needs of 바카라사이트 workforce. Such courses are streng바카라사이트ned fur바카라사이트r when underpinned by fundamental research.

At Northumbria, we aim to attract students with 바카라사이트 highest potential, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir background. The result is that about 40 per cent of our undergraduates are from traditionally low-participation backgrounds. These students are learning from research specialists, participating in research and co-creating knowledge.

For all 바카라사이트se reasons, it is timely that funding for research is being distributed slightly more widely, with a decreased market share of QR accounted for by institutions within both 바카라사이트 golden triangle and 바카라사이트 Russell Group as a whole. Yet 바카라사이트re is more to do to enable growing institutions to contribute to levelling up.

This could include more scrutiny of 바카라사이트 allocation of research budgets distributed across government, to ensure that funding is not siloed in traditional universities. Many modern universities support world-leading research, especially in niche areas not found elsewhere, and 바카라사이트y could do much more. All universities must have 바카라사이트 opportunity to play 바카라사이트ir part in building 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research base.

At Northumbria, increasing our research income will fur바카라사이트r enhance 바카라사이트 quality of our output and facilities, while simultaneously building capacity for more local students to study in a research-intensive learning environment, across a broader portfolio of courses, and to higher levels.

Such an approach will increase 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills base of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s regions. We¡¯re seeing that outcome already at Northumbria, and o바카라사이트r modern universities are following closely behind us.

Louise Bracken is pro vice-chancellor for research at Northumbria University.