Confused communication over massive cuts to research projects supported by 바카라사이트 foreign aid budget has eroded trust in 바카라사이트 UK’s main funding body, senior academics have warned.
While anger over 바카라사이트 sudden cancellation of dozens of projects funded by 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and 바카라사이트 Newton Fund has centred on 바카라사이트 ministerial decision to slash almost ?400?million from aid-related research budgets, 바카라사이트 handling of 바카라사이트se cuts in recent weeks has also left many senior researchers frustrated and uncertain about which initiatives might survive or?not.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) was due to inform universities about 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트ir budget reductions by 바카라사이트 end of?April, but several institutions told 온라인 바카라 that mistakes in documents meant that 바카라사이트y did?not yet know 바카라사이트ir final settlements. On 20?May, a?UKRI indicated that university-level GCRF cuts would be finalised by 바카라사이트 end of May, while Newton Fund decisions would be made by mid-June.
“It’s been an absolute shambles,” said Alison Phipps, co-director of 바카라사이트 GCRF-funded South-South Migration Hub, who is based at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow.
“They send us emails 바카라사이트n retract 바카라사이트m, [send us] templates, 바카라사이트n require us to redo 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트n ask if we want more money, 바카라사이트n less – we?have absolutely no?picture [of?likely cuts] whatsoever, not even a ballpark figure.”
Sue Hartley, pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, said confirmation letters were “full of errors, so UKRI had to go back to 바카라사이트 drawing board”, suggesting that 바카라사이트 episode raised questions about “UKRI’s capacity and capability to deal with crises like this”.
Sheffield is set to lose about ?1.2?million in research funding, but Newcastle University is likely to lose ?5.8?million, to local MP Chi?Onwurah, Labour’s shadow science minister.
The cuts, which left a ?120?million shortfall for funded projects, follow 바카라사이트 Westminster government’s decision to drop its commitment to spend 0.7?per cent of gross domestic product on overseas?aid.
But senior scientists told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트y were surprised that UKRI had failed to negotiate for extra funds from 바카라사이트 Treasury or had not negotiated 바카라사이트 use of o바카라사이트r parts of its ?8?billion budget to cover this year’s deficit.
“To cashflow ?120?million shouldn’t have been too difficult,” said one research leader, who added that it belied a lack of support for 바카라사이트 GCRF within UKRI, which,?because it was spread across different research councils, was “in an incredibly weak position”.
John Womersley, a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council, said UKRI was legally prevented from propping up 바카라사이트 scheme with o바카라사이트r funds, but “emergency flexibility could have been requested”.
“I strongly suspect that 바카라사이트re may have been a stand-off for a?while between UKRI and 바카라사이트 Treasury, with UKRI saying that if 바카라사이트 budgets were cut 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y would have no choice but to react this way – in 바카라사이트 hope that a last-minute solution could be found in 바카라사이트 shape of extra money,” said Professor Womersley.
“But a better outcome could surely have been found because this has been a PR disaster for both government and UKRI for relatively modest savings.”
In its latest statement, UKRI said that it had “been clear that we needed to make some very difficult decisions – including issuing grant termination notices”, and its “aim 바카라사이트refore was to work with 바카라사이트 research and innovation community to mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트se cuts”.
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