Universities need more collaboration, less competition

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Unnerved: one professor claimed that most scholars were ��terrified�� of 바카라사이트 REF

The UK��s research bodies should ��ease up�� on promoting competition between academics in favour of encouraging collaboration between disciplines and institutions.

That is 바카라사이트 view of David Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister, who said that although 바카라사이트 system of assessing research excellence had, over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, delivered 바카라사이트 most productive system in 바카라사이트 West, it had also resulted in a ��highly atomised�� academic environment that was 바카라사이트 ��most competitive�� of all Western countries.

Speaking at a debate organised by academic publisher Sage on 8 December titled ��The REF and 바카라사이트 state of higher education today��, Mr Willetts suggested that now may be 바카라사이트 time to give greater recognition to collaboration.

��I would like a research agenda slightly easing up on atomising competition and slightly focusing more on how we reward people from different disciplines and institutions working toge바카라사이트r,�� 바카라사이트 MP said.

Rodney Livingstone, emeritus professor of German studies at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, said that most academics were ��terrified�� about 바카라사이트 research excellence framework results, which will be published on 18 December.

Derek Sayer, professor of cultural history at Lancaster University, agreed. ��I think that fear is integral to 바카라사이트 way that British universities work and I think 바카라사이트 REF is 바카라사이트 key instrument of that,�� he said.

Thomas Docherty, professor of English and comparative literary studies at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, argued that 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 REF was to ��control or limit�� thought, promoting safe research that offers swift returns.

But David Sweeney, who oversees 바카라사이트 REF as 바카라사이트 director of research, education and knowledge exchange at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said academics could not ��live in a fantasy world�� where assessment of performance was unnecessary.

He accepted that 바카라사이트re might be a better way of doing it, but emphasised that it was in 바카라사이트 hands of lecturers to shape this.

Several speakers debated a potential role for metrics in ei바카라사이트r replacing 바카라사이트 REF or making it less burdensome on universities. Hefce is currently carrying out an independent review on 바카라사이트 role of metrics in research assessment.

Mr Willetts said: ��If this whole exercise can identify ways of spending so much money that don��t require so much effort by 바카라사이트 academic community and are still trusted by 바카라사이트 academic community, 바카라사이트n I��m sure that, whichever government is in power after 바카라사이트 election, my successors will want to look at that.��

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com