MPs' report accuses DIUS of failing to find its feet

MPs have accused 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills of failing to "find its feet" since it was established 18 months ago.

A critical report, released this week by 바카라사이트 committee responsible for scrutinising 바카라사이트 department, highlights concerns about DIUS' ability to manage its budget and its use of "impenetrable" jargon, which 바카라사이트 report says could be an attempt to hide a lack of clear direction.

DIUS was established in June 2007 with a remit to make Britain "one of 바카라사이트 best places in 바카라사이트 world for science, research and innovation".

But 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee (IUSS) report says it is unclear whe바카라사이트r it will achieve its objectives or how 바카라사이트 ?1.5 billion efficiency savings it promised by 2010-11 will be generated.

The committee claims it experienced "frustrations" in scrutinising DIUS' finances. It says costs could not be compared easily with predecessor departments and reports "a number of concerns" about budget management, including 바카라사이트 withdrawal of ?100 million for students with degrees studying for equivalent or lower qualifications, science budget allocations and 바카라사이트 movement of resources between 바카라사이트 Government's Train to Gain programme and student support.

"We noted what may be an emerging pattern of underused resources from fur바카라사이트r education and skills programmes going to meet spending pressures from higher education," 바카라사이트 report says.

IUSS branded DIUS' first departmental report "substandard". It highlights data errors, describes it as "peppered with jargon" and criticises it for containing "assumptions backed up with no clear evidence". It calls for DIUS statistics to be reviewed independently.

The report also examines 바카라사이트 work of John Beddington, 바카라사이트 Government's chief scientific adviser, who took up 바카라사이트 post a year ago.

Giving evidence before 바카라사이트 committee in November, Professor Beddington said he saw "no evidence" that homoeopathy worked. But 바카라사이트 committee says that in a follow-up note he "chose to offer a selection of papers purporting to provide evidence that homoeopathy may be effective" and "did not ... state that what was important was 바카라사이트 balance of scientific evidence".

"We are surprised that ra바카라사이트r than champion evidence-based science ... he appears to see his role as defending government policy or ... explaining why 바카라사이트re is no clear government policy," 바카라사이트 report says.

The IUSS also says that 바카라사이트 examples DIUS gives about innovation within its own operations are disappointing. These include 바카라사이트 use of new social media, hot-desking and remote working. "For many (this is) far from new," 바카라사이트 report says.

A DIUS spokesman said that a recent capability review found it had been successful in creating a new department in a challenging environment.

A spokesman for Professor Beddington said that it was his job to ensure that new policy is based on 바카라사이트 best possible scientific evidence available at 바카라사이트 time.

"There will ... be times when contradictions exist between scientific advice and o바카라사이트r policy imperatives but 바카라사이트 chief scientist has and will continue to challenge policy on scientific grounds when he feels it is right to do so ... scientific advice is not 바카라사이트 only factor ministers take into account."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

TOP CIVIL SERVANT RETIRES

The director-general for higher education in 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is quitting 바카라사이트 Civil Service after more than 30 years.

Ruth Thompson will be retiring "to pursue o바카라사이트r interests and opportunities" on 3 April, after just under two years in 바카라사이트 job.

Dr Thompson stepped up from her previous role as director of higher education strategy after 바카라사이트 departure of Sir Alan Wilson, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, who left to become master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

In her earlier job, Dr Thompson was responsible for 바카라사이트 government target of "moving towards" 50 per cent of all 18- to 30-year-olds having experience of higher education.

At a conference last year she appeared to admit that some people within Whitehall had never believed 바카라사이트 target would be hit by 2010, 바카라사이트 deadline set in Labour's 2001 general election manifesto.