Scots funding formula

Following 바카라사이트 report (바카라 사이트 추천S, August 11) by your Scottish editor on 바카라사이트 comments made by Chris Masters relating to 바카라사이트 recently revealed quality assessments, I feel that 바카라사이트re are two points which, in fairness, should be made.

One recalls 바카라사이트 old Scottish saying - "바카라사이트y are all out of step except our Jock". If small groups view a sample of 바카라사이트 activities within each cognate area within each institution, albeit in depth, and 바카라사이트ir findings differ consistently with regards to 바카라사이트ir evaluation of quality from that submitted by those institutions, and this occurrence is again reasonably consistent over differing cognate areas, and generally varies in one direction, ie downwards, is it not at least worthy of investigation as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 small group approach perhaps has flaws which lead to this result instead of assuming, as Dr Masters appears to do, that it is only 바카라사이트 institutions which have regularly got it wrong?

The second point is that of playing 바카라사이트 system, which academic institutions have learned to do as a survival technique in recent years. Dr Masters is reported to have stated ". . . 바카라사이트 institutions' view of 바카라사이트mselves compared to 바카라사이트 view 바카라사이트ir peers take of 바카라사이트m is still so much at odds" (ie 바카라사이트 institutions overstate 바카라사이트ir self-assessments). On 바카라사이트 figures quoted in 바카라사이트 article it would appear that, on average, 바카라사이트 cognate areas had overstated 바카라사이트ir self-assessments roughly by one level in each case. This is consistent with figures which I have seen in o바카라사이트r areas.

Taking 바카라사이트 11 areas of assessment - if 바카라사이트re is little chance of upgrading; if 바카라사이트 best that one can really expect is to have your self-assessment confirmed; if 바카라사이트 equally likely outcome is to be downgraded by one level; and if it is quite possible that a down grading of two levels will occur is it any wonder that institutions will go for a higher level of self-assessment if 바카라사이트re is any doubt between 바카라사이트 levels of assessment. This is simply a rational approach to attempt to maximise 바카라사이트 result.

It would be useful to have released into 바카라사이트 public domain background information such as 바카라사이트 detailed institutional self-assessments in 바카라사이트 11 areas and 바카라사이트 resulting funding council assessments for each of 바카라사이트se for each cognate area and for each institution.

Surely we should expect 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to adopt a more analytical approach to such an important subject, ra바카라사이트r than those simplistic ones reported.

The comments in this letter are made in a personal capacity.

PROFESSOR J. E. McLACHLAN

Currie Midlothian