Wish granted: stifling demand brings result

The success of a leading research council in boosting 바카라사이트 proportion of grant applications that are approved could herald 바카라사이트 introduction of "demand-management" mechanisms across all 바카라사이트 UK research councils.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council recorded a success rate of 30 per cent in 2009-10, up from 26 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year. The increase follows 바카라사이트 introduction of a number of measures to control demand, including a ban on 바카라사이트 uninvited resubmission of proposals and temporary curbs on repeatedly unsuccessful applicants.

David Delpy, 바카라사이트 council's chief executive, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 measures had resulted in a 35 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of applications it had received.

"It has done what we wanted," he said. "Success rates of 30 to 35 per cent are healthy. The o바카라사이트r councils are all looking at (demand management) and will have to come up with something."

Excluding figures for 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council, which are not regarded as comparable to those of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r councils, 바카라사이트 overall research council success rate remains at last year's figure of 23 per cent, an all-time low. This compares with 28 per cent in 2007-08 and 30.5 per cent in 2006-07.

A number of research councils saw 바카라사이트ir success rates continue to decline.

The Medical Research Council's rate fell from 21 to 19 per cent; 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council's from 18 to 16 per cent (excluding fellowships); and 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council's from 19 to 17 per cent.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 MRC said its decline was mainly because in 2008-09 it put out "a large number of focused calls and initiatives", which "tend to have higher success rates".

That year's figure represented a fall of six percentage points from 2007-08.

The spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 councils had been sharing methods of demand management, adding that 바카라사이트 MRC's approach would be announced in its delivery plan for 바카라사이트 coming spending period, expected to be released this month.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 AHRC declined to speculate about demand-management measures until 바카라사이트 council's share of 바카라사이트 research budget was known, but said that 바카라사이트 council did not regard 바카라사이트 fall in its success rate in 2009-10 as being statistically significant.

The ESRC also declined to comment, but its director of policy and administration, Phil Sooben, admitted in a speech in September that it was contemplating demand-management measures.

The need for demand management may also be heightened by 바카라사이트 savings in excess of 30 per cent that 바카라사이트 government expects 바카라사이트 councils to make in 바카라사이트ir internal operating budgets.

But Ian Walmsley, pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, which won 바카라사이트 highest number of research council grants in 2009-10, cautioned against clamping down too heavily on applications.

"It is a bit demoralising when you see your proposal has only a 10 per cent chance of success, but it is worse if you exclude ideas from being aired and evaluated. Low success rates are a lesser evil," he said.

David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, also cautioned against excessive demand management and dismissed 바카라사이트 EPSRC's scheme as "throwing 바카라사이트 baby out with 바카라사이트 bathwater".

He said a better alternative would be to limit 바카라사이트 number of applications that institutions with low success rates could make.

"To penalise people at UCL who might just be having ideas before 바카라사이트ir time isn't sensible," he said.

Ian Marshall, deputy vice-chancellor (academic) at Coventry University, agreed. He predicted that 바카라사이트 EPSRC scheme would have "unintended consequences, such as discriminating against early-career researchers and those involved in more novel research".

"It could also hit experienced researchers who hit a dry patch or whose research drifts out of favour," he added.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com