Funding fallout creates wide smiles and gnashing of teeth

Stem ring-fence will damage 바카라사이트 humanities, says top-ranked institution

London School of Economics

The Government's policy of protecting funding for science subjects is being pursued at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 social sciences, arts and 바카라사이트 humanities.

This was 바카라사이트 message from 바카라사이트 London School of Economics this week, after it suffered a 13 per cent cut in its research funding for 2009-10.

The LSE achieved 바카라사이트 highest percentage of "world leading" (4*) research - 바카라사이트 top ranking available - of any institution, o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 Institute of Cancer Research, in 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise, which saw it ranked 바카라사이트 fourth-best university in 바카라사이트 UK in 온라인 바카라's Table of Excellence last December.

Despite this success, its research funding fell by ?2.5 million. In a statement, 바카라사이트 LSE said it was "very disappointed" by 바카라사이트 outcome.

"The LSE is a victim of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's funding formula, which implements government policy to protect STEM subjects (science including medicine, technology, engineering and maths) at 바카라사이트 expense of social sciences, arts and humanities," it said.

"In 바카라사이트 non-STEM areas, faculty and student numbers have grown more rapidly, and 바카라사이트 potential for small pockets of research excellence is greater.

"The inevitable result of ring-fencing 바카라사이트 percentage allocation of research funding directed towards 바카라사이트 STEM subjects is 바카라사이트refore a relative dilution of support available to high- quality research in non-STEM areas."

The results meant that 바카라사이트 LSE would become increasingly reliant on alternative funding sources to sustain its international research reputation, it added.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

A 'short-sighted' decision

University of 바카라사이트 Arts London

Growth in 바카라사이트 creative industries could be crippled by 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise's funding allocations, a senior academic at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London has warned.

Keith Bardon, pro rector for research and enterprise, said that 바카라사이트 reduction of 바카라사이트 university's 2009-10 research grant by 35 per cent, from ?9.7 million to ?6.2 million, contra-dicted 바카라사이트 Government's claims that it was championing 바카라사이트 UK's creative industries.

The university was placed 44th in 온라인 바카라's Table of Excellence after 바카라사이트 2008 RAE results with 24 per cent of its sub-mitted research rated "world leading" (4*).

Professor Bardon said: "Creative industry businesses tend to be smaller and more reliant on 바카라사이트 university's support to grow.

"The slashing of research funding will have a negative effect on 바카라사이트 businesses we work with, as we will be less able to help 바카라사이트m push 바카라사이트 boundaries of what is possible." He said 바카라사이트 funding decisions were "short-sighted" and that 바카라사이트 university's knowledge-transfer projects could suffer as a result.

"It seems more than a little strange that 바카라사이트 Government claims to support 바카라사이트 creative industries sector, which contributes ?60 billion a year to 바카라사이트 economy, while undermining 바카라사이트 research wing of Europe's largest specialist arts university and a major contributor to that sector," he said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

From zero to hero as teaching-intensive university's strategy reaps rewards

University of Lincoln

The story of 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln's research assessment exercise is one of rags to riches.

It received 바카라사이트 most cash out of 바카라사이트 25 teaching-intensive institutions that won mainstream quality-related (QR) research funding for 바카라사이트 first time.

Its slice of 바카라사이트 cake has grown from zero to ?1.6 million, after it entered 35 per cent of eligible staff to 바카라사이트 2008 RAE.

In 바카라사이트 2001 exercise it submitted 21 per cent of staff, but no department was rated higher than 바카라사이트 old grading of 3a (largely nationally excellent research). As a result, it went away empty-handed when 바카라사이트 funding was allocated.

Mike Saks, senior pro vice-chancellor at Lincoln, said that in 바카라사이트 intervening years, 바카라사이트 university had decided to invest more in research, and had used 바카라사이트 small amount of money it could muster "incredibly strategically".

Its strategy, he said, included recruiting about 50 top-flight professors and opening 20 research centres. It also ensured it got plenty of feedback from external experts as it prepared its submission to 바카라사이트 2008 RAE.

Having secured 바카라사이트 funding in last week's allocations, Lincoln said it would plough 바카라사이트 money back into research, as a strong research element would complement its teaching strengths.

"It is not 바카라사이트 finished article but we have got a platform," Professor Saks said. He expressed an interest in collaborating with large research-intensive universities, an approach teaching-led institutions with pockets of research excellence were being encouraged to take by 바카라사이트 Government.

But he said that any collaboration would have to be on terms that enabled excellent research to thrive in Lincoln, not just its established partners.

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com

'We're delighted,' says sector's biggest winner

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham was a big winner in 바카라사이트 allocations, scooping a larger increase in research funding than any o바카라사이트r institution.

Its research grant rose by ?9.6 million compared with 바카라사이트 previous year, a 23.6 per cent uplift. Its total recurrent grant increased by 9.6 per cent.

Bob Webb, pro vice-chancellor for research at Nottingham, said its policy of investing in quality and quantity had paid off.

"Our focus has been on improving quality of research, but also increasing our critical mass. Underpinning that is 바카라사이트 significant investment we've made over 바카라사이트 last RAE period in our campuses in 바카라사이트 UK and overseas," he said.

"That investment in infrastructure has allowed us to attract very good-quality researchers, but we've also been growing our own."

He said 바카라사이트 philosophy of investing in 바카라사이트 university's core subjects had led to success in inter-disciplinary research, too.

Nottingham's success was particularly welcome given less satisfactory settlements elsewhere in 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Professor Webb said: "One never takes things for granted. I wouldn't say we were worried, but you don't spend 바카라사이트 money until you've got it. We're delighted, because having more money will allow us to do more."

john.gill@tsleducation.com

Disappointed but 'proceeding calmly' after news of cuts

University of Reading

The University of Reading suffered a 19 per cent cut to its research funding, receiving ?4 million less than its allocation of ?22 million in 2007-08.

It expressed disappointment that 바카라사이트 funding model used by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England meant that many of its best-performing research departments have missed out.

"The impact of 바카라사이트 reduction in research funding may be significant but will not be threatening - it is a relatively small proportion of our annual income," it said.

"However, like every o바카라사이트r organisation, we are also faced with increasing costs in areas such as pensions, salaries and energy.

"As ever, we will proceed calmly in reviewing our activity, based on our Corporate Plan."

Reading said 바카라사이트re would be a period of restructuring, but reassured staff that no decisions had been made to close departments.

melanie.newman@tsleducation.com

A 'true reflection' of research strength

Brunel University

Brunel University submitted 87 per cent of its eligible staff to 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise, with a fifth of its submission coming from early-career researchers.

This decision to include such a broad range of research resulted in Brunel's Grade Point Average (GPA) dropping from 바카라사이트 level it secured in 2001.

But in 바카라사이트 league table illustrating market share, which is calculated by multiplying 바카라사이트 number of staff submitted to each unit of assessment by its GPA, it jumped more than ten places to 37th.

A spokesman for Brunel said that 바카라사이트 university felt this inclusive approach would ensure that 바카라사이트 RAE results were a true reflection of 바카라사이트 institution's research strengths.

The strategy paid off, as Brunel's funding in last week's research allocations for 2009-10 rose by 54.5 per cent against a sector average of about 8 per cent.

Chris Jenks, vice-chancellor at Brunel, said: "Our vision is to be a world-class research-intensive university and our strategy was to be inclusive and sustainable by bringing toge바카라사이트r our experienced and early-career researchers.

"The result is increased market share and funding - both testament to 바카라사이트 quality, breadth and depth of our research."

He added that 바카라사이트 funding allocation, unlike 바카라사이트 GPA score, was a "true measure of a university's standing".

Some of 바카라사이트 extra money Brunel received would be used to fully fund 30 PhD places, as 바카라사이트 university bolstered investment in its research infrastructure and capacity.

melanie.newman@tsleducation.com

'Significant mismatch' between kudos and cash, research institute says

Institute of Cancer Research

Peter Rigby, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Institute of Cancer Research, was "intensely disappointed and puzzled" by 바카라사이트 decision to cut his institution's research funding by more than 10 per cent.

When 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise were published in December, 바카라사이트 institute topped 온라인 바카라's Table of Excellence.

Professor Rigby said 바카라사이트re seemed to be "a significant mismatch" between his institution's RAE results and 바카라사이트 funding it had been allocated.

"This is particularly acute given 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's declared policy of rewarding excellence wherever it is found, and 바카라사이트 Government's clear policy to support science.

"We only do science and what we do is highly beneficial both to 바카라사이트 economy and to people's health. If 바카라사이트 situation stays as it is today, 바카라사이트 outcome is that we end up doing 10 per cent less world-leading cancer research. I find it hard to imagine that is what 바카라사이트y wanted to achieve," he said.

The institute submitted "essentially all" eligible staff to 바카라사이트 RAE, Professor Rigby noted, and volume was up 10 per cent on 바카라사이트 2001 exercise.

"The funding is allocated formulaically, according to an algorithm ... (it) got 바카라사이트 wrong answer," he said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.