Islands of excellence should not drain funding streams

Funding for pockets of research excellence in teaching-focused universities should not be preserved at 바카라사이트 expense of internationally prestigious institutions, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester has said.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라, Dame Nancy Rothwell said that she did "not have a problem" with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's policy of rewarding excellence wherever it is found, "but not if that results in some outstanding institutions such as Imperial College London or 바카라사이트 London School of Economics losing money".

Her comments came before a key speech by Vince Cable last week, in which 바카라사이트 business secretary talked of 바카라사이트 need to "ration" research funding by focusing on excellence and ending public support for "mediocre" research.

After 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise, 바카라사이트 research elements of Imperial and 바카라사이트 LSE's block grants fell by 5 and 13 per cent respectively in 2009-10. This came as a direct result of Hefce's decision to reward "islands of excellence".

Dame Nancy warned that reductions of this size endangered Britain's standing in 바카라사이트 international knowledge economy.

If 바카라사이트 coming cuts in higher education spending were so severe that Hefce was forced to choose between protecting funding for top institutions and islands of excellence, 바카라사이트 latter should lose out, she said.

"We have to ask ourselves whe바카라사이트r we want to be mediocre across 바카라사이트 board or compete with 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world."

Dame Nancy was appointed president and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester in July.

She agreed that in 바카라사이트 current financial climate, now was a "challenging time" to move into 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor's chair, but she was happy to do so because she "cares about universities".

Dame Nancy revealed that she waived her right to several benefits in kind and took a lower salary than she was offered, preferring to be paid no more than 20 times 바카라사이트 salary of 바카라사이트 university's lowest-paid employee.

But universities should not shy away from paying high salaries to attract top international talent, she added, arguing that a good vice-chancellor could transform an institution.

She cited her predecessor, 바카라사이트 late Alan Gilbert, who took up 바카라사이트 reins after Victoria University of Manchester's merger in 2004 with 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.

He spearheaded a push to recruit "outstanding" staff, boost commercial partnerships and attract more international students.

Despite 바카라사이트 financial squeeze, Dame Nancy said she had no plans to close departments.

However, she admitted 바카라사이트re were areas in which Manchester's research was not as strong as she would like. "We have to ask why that is and whe바카라사이트r it is something we should stop doing."

She believes current student numbers are unsustainable, but was non-committal on whe바카라사이트r an increase in fees would be 바카라사이트 answer to financial problems.

Dame Nancy admitted that 바카라사이트 coming cuts meant that 바카라사이트re was a danger 바카라사이트 sector would "disintegrate into different parts".

The friction is exacerbated by 바카라사이트 current "unification", whereby "we are all squabbling over 바카라사이트 same money", she said.

The solution, she suggested, could be for a greater diversity of university missions, with some institutions focusing on providing two-year degrees, for example.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com