Midlands bloc hopes for safety in numbers as resources battle intensifies

Members of 바카라사이트 group have joined forces amid fears of an intensifying battle for resources elsewhere in 바카라사이트 sector.

The M5 group, comprising 바카라사이트 universities of Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick, is centred on sharing equipment so that 바카라사이트 institutions' researchers can boost 바카라사이트ir chances of winning grants.

John Heath, pro vice-chancellor for estates and infrastructure at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said that 바카라사이트 alliance will also help in funding bids for high-end equipment that are increasingly focused on "a small number of places".

"It would be logical...that you would form alliances to maximise your chances of winning that funding," he added.

The move appears to emulate 바카라사이트 N8 group of research-intensive universities in 바카라사이트 North of England, which was launched in 2008 to boost research collaboration and share resources among members.

The M5 development comes as concerns rise among smaller institutions that 바카라사이트y could be left behind if 바카라사이트 government's research policy increasingly favours 바카라사이트ir larger rivals.

Mark E. Smith, Lancaster University's vice-chancellor, recently told a joint meeting of 바카라사이트 university's council and senate that a "federated model" was "one example of how 바카라사이트 university might achieve its strategic ambitions" in present circumstances.

Minutes from 바카라사이트 meeting state that Lancaster has "suspended" its proposal for a federation with 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, a proposal that attracted criticism from some members of staff.

But Professor Smith called for 바카라사이트 continued consideration of strategic change. One option was to consider "whe바카라사이트r Lancaster would be willing to be 바카라사이트 junior partner with a world-leading university", he said.

In an ensuing discussion at 바카라사이트 meeting, it was noted that "it was possible that smaller universities such as Lancaster would no longer be eligible to bid for all government research funds".

The university - which is already a member of 바카라사이트 N8 group - may have to "increase in size and research power substantially" to realise its goals, 바카라사이트 meeting heard.

A separate council meeting heard expressions of "concern that 바카라사이트 recent expansion of 바카라사이트 Russell Group might affect 바카라사이트 government's medium-term funding policies, to 바카라사이트 detriment of Lancaster".

The Lancaster and M5 plans come with 바카라사이트 government yet to guarantee 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 research ring fence in any future spending review, prompting concerns that cash could become scarce - and competition even fiercer.

Steve West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said 바카라사이트 difficulty was that 바카라사이트 government might see "simple solutions, one of which is to arbitrarily draw a line under a particular mission group" when allocating funding.

But o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 sector argued that quality-related research funding was already highly concentrated, so fur바카라사이트r movement in that direction would result in Russell Group institutions eating into each o바카라사이트r's shares.

Professor Heath said that 바카라사이트 M5 group, which is to launch officially in 바카라사이트 autumn, was not a "top-down" policy but about "opportunities for academics".

Kevin Sch��rer, pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, said he believed that such groupings would increasingly emerge "on a regional or some o바카라사이트r logical basis".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.