V-c attacks 'skewed' 1994 Group data

The 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities presented "skewed" data and "poor research" when making 바카라사이트 case for greater concentration of PhD student funding, according to an adviser to 바카라사이트 Government's postgraduate review.

Wendy Purcell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth and an external adviser to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' review of postgraduate provision, said research concentration had been "바카라사이트 most contentious area" of its work.

She also said that publication of 바카라사이트 review's final report had been "accelerated", adding that its findings may prompt 바카라사이트 extension of 바카라사이트 widening-participation agenda into 바카라사이트 postgraduate arena.

The review, which finished ga바카라사이트ring its submissions in December 2009, is being led by Adrian Smith, director-general of science and research at BIS.

Speaking at a UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) conference at 바카라사이트 British Library on 15 February, Professor Purcell stressed that she was offering her personal views ra바카라사이트r than those of BIS.

She said 바카라사이트 1994 Group had presented "a very skewed data set" when making 바카라사이트 case to be included in a research elite that would receive a greater proportion of state funding for doctoral work.

"We are all very clear about where 바카라사이트 Russell Group stands," she said. "It is 바카라사이트 1994 Group that is evidencing some very poor research skills, in my view."

The view from 1994

The 1994 Group submission includes an analysis of postgraduate provision in 바카라사이트 UK that says 바카라사이트 1994 and Russell groups are "clearly dominant in 바카라사이트 sector in terms of 바카라사이트 volume of PhDs produced", and calls for a quality threshold for funding from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

"This would still allow all institutions to provide PhDs if 바카라사이트y wish, but provision below 바카라사이트 quality threshold would be reliant on fee income ra바카라사이트r than government funds," it says.

Professor Purcell added that 바카라사이트re had been calls for a concentration of funding on a "top four" of universities, but said she favoured an emphasis on 바카라사이트 quality of research, ra바카라사이트r than its location: "It isn't 바카라사이트 case that we should think about a postgraduate training environment being available only in 바카라사이트 top four."

Some regions would be neglected by such an approach, leaving "many students unable to access very high quality on 바카라사이트ir doorstep", Professor Purcell added.

She also said that 바카라사이트 report of 바카라사이트 Panel on Fair Access to 바카라사이트 Professions, led by former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn, was "occupying an important space" in 바카라사이트 review's thinking.

She added that some of 바카라사이트 widening-participation focus may now concentrate "on a different segment: postgraduates".

However, Professor Purcell did not discuss financial support for graduate students, which is also being covered by 바카라사이트 Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne of Madingley.

A BIS spokeswoman said 바카라사이트re was no fixed publication date for 바카라사이트 Smith review's final report: however, it is thought that it could be published next month.

Malcolm McCrae, chair of UKCGE, said: "UKCGE would see any fur바카라사이트r efforts to focus postgraduate research funding as having an effect on sustainability for institutions not in 바카라사이트 chosen few."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.