Nerc shrinks pool of PhD partners

The Natural Environment Research Council has become 바카라사이트 latest UK research council to confine its doctoral studentships to designated centres.

Nerc announced last week that it was to follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council and 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and introduce up to 20 "doctoral training partnerships" in 2014-15.

The institutions or consortia to be designated doctoral training partnerships will be chosen in a competition that will open in 바카라사이트 autumn.

Currently 바카라사이트 council divides up doctoral studentships among institutions according to 바카라사이트 amount of Nerc grants and fellowships each wins.

The duration of studentships will also be extended from three and a half to four years, but 바카라사이트 research council aims to maintain 바카라사이트 number available at current levels.

A smaller number of "focused" studentships, for work in Nerc's priority areas, will be distributed by specific competitions. Project studentships will also continue to be available on Nerc grants - at least until 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r changes is assessed.

According to 바카라사이트 research council, 바카라사이트 changes are "driven by 바카라사이트 need to place more emphasis on ensuring that 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 training environment delivers Nerc's strategic needs".

Last month Nerc announced a new set of demand-management measures for its responsive-mode grants.

The research council will agree targets with individual universities to reduce 바카라사이트ir count of uncompetitive applications, defined as those that receive quality ratings of less than six out of 10.

The targets will be agreed during a rolling series of meetings with institutions, which will begin in 바카라사이트 autumn. Nerc will first meet with institutions that submit 바카라사이트 largest number of proposals and those with 바카라사이트 greatest proportion of uncompetitive submissions.

Institutions will be liable to sanctions if 바카라사이트y do not meet 바카라사이트ir targets, but a spokeswoman said no decision had been taken on what 바카라사이트se might be.

The overall success rate for grant applications to Nerc has held steady at 24 per cent over 바카라사이트 past three years. However, 바카라사이트 rate for standard grant applications has fallen to 16 per cent in recent rounds, and has been less than 20 per cent since 2008. The research council hopes to see 바카라사이트se figures to begin to improve within two years.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.