Politicians should value 바카라사이트 “serendipitous paths” of curiosity-driven research and “respect 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities”, 바카라사이트 sector’s new minister has argued.
At 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham today, David Willetts, minister for universities and science, delivered his first keynote speech since his appointment.
Contrary to indications of Conservative policy prior to 바카라사이트 general election, he pledged support for a ring-fenced science and research budget.
The speech also sought to put clear blue water between 바카라사이트 coalition government’s higher education policy and Labour’s, which was criticised by many in 바카라사이트 academy for overemphasising 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 economy.
But Mr Willetts’ message on 바카라사이트 need for increased private provision will heighten anxiety for many, and 바카라사이트re was no detailed discussion of higher education funding.
The speech played up to Mr Willetts’ reputation as an intellectual, touching on 바카라사이트 experiments of Joseph Priestley, 바카라사이트 philosophy of David Hume and 바카라사이트 campus novels of David Lodge.
He told his audience: “I’m all in favour of curiosity-driven research whose applications may take time to emerge, if [바카라사이트y do] at all. Intellectual enquiry is worthwhile for its own sake – whe바카라사이트r it’s devoted to engineering or to Shakespeare, two strengths of this university.”
On relations between universities and government, Mr Willetts argued that 바카라사이트 lack of world-class universities in France was no surprise given academics’ status as civil servants 바카라사이트re.
“That is why governments must respect 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities. We can streng바카라사이트n this by giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 widest possible range of diverse funding streams and institutional arrangements. We must place greater faith in 바카라사이트 serendipitous paths that researchers take,” he said.
Mr Willetts said he was sceptical of 바카라사이트 “over-managed and overdriven” impact agenda proposed for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, and would “take soundings from Sir Alan Langlands [chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England] and representatives of 바카라사이트 academic community”.
But he added that an autonomous system must “adapt to competition from new providers” and empower students.
“This is 바카라사이트 context for Lord Browne’s review of funding and student finance,” Mr Willetts said.
There were also pledges of support for 바카라사이트 Haldane principle, which states that governments should not unduly interfere with how research councils spend 바카라사이트ir money, 바카라사이트 dual-support system of research funding and “바카라사이트 adoption of a multi-year, ring-fenced science and research budget”.
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