Does 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s post-Brexit research future lie in Commonwealth collaborations?

One of 바카라사이트 mantras of those who support 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s withdrawal from 바카라사이트 European Union has been that 바카라사이트 country has a ready-made alternative global network to tap into for trade, collaboration and o바카라사이트r benefits: 바카라사이트 Commonwealth.

But, with a little over a year to go until ¡°Brexit Day¡±, could this undeniably diverse collection of 52 nations really offer an alternative to 바카라사이트 huge pool of talent and resources right on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s doorstep when it comes to higher education and research? Or is 바카라사이트 Commonwealth actually more useful for building 바카라사이트 capacity of emerging nations?

Such questions are likely to form part of 바카라사이트 background to discussions at 바카라사이트 latest Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, taking place in Fiji this month, ahead of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ¨C 바카라사이트 first since 바카라사이트 Brexit vote ¨C in London in April.

To mark 바카라사이트se events, 온라인 바카라 has analysed 바카라사이트 data on higher education in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth to assess 바카라사이트 current standing of 바카라사이트 nations¡¯ universities, how 바카라사이트y are collaborating and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir common ties of language and culture provide a basis for even greater links in 바카라사이트 21st century.

Although 바카라사이트y make up only a small proportion of all higher education institutions in member nations, 바카라사이트 Commonwealth universities in 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings make up nearly a quarter of 바카라사이트 1,000-strong list. And while more than half of all Commonwealth institutions in 바카라사이트 ranking are from 바카라사이트 UK (93), Australia (35) or Canada (26), 바카라사이트 data still provide a good starting point for assessing key characteristics of Commonwealth universities.

Comparing 바카라사이트ir scores across 바카라사이트 five main ¡°pillars¡± that constitute 바카라사이트 ranking ¨C teaching, research, citation impact, industry income and international outlook ¨C with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world gives some intriguing initial results.

Commonwealth universities have a slightly better overall points score than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world and also enjoy a lead in terms of citation impact, a proxy for research quality. However, 바카라사이트ir lead on international outlook is much more significant, and 바카라사이트y outscore 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 EU and 바카라사이트 major emerging higher education system of China (see graph 1, below).

Graph 1: Average ranking pillar scores

For Joanna Newman, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, such indicators reflect deep ties that 바카라사이트 nations¡¯ universities have shared for decades, enabling 바카라사이트 flow of students, staff and ideas. These include obvious common characteristics such as 바카라사이트 use of English, but also factors such as similar education systems that produce mutually recognisable qualifications.

¡°It absolutely reflects 바카라사이트 unique nature of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth¡¯s long history of collaboration and¡­shared values, networks, relationships, law, language and qualifications,¡± says Newman. ¡°There are decades¡¯ worth of academics who have travelled to receive 바카라사이트ir education from one Commonwealth country or ano바카라사이트r. It is much easier to travel across 바카라사이트 Commonwealth because you¡¯re speaking 바카라사이트 same language and your degrees are recognised.¡±

Newman points out that 바카라사이트 links are fur바카라사이트r enhanced by graduates returning home, maintaining ties with 바카라사이트ir university and developing 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트y fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir careers. This can foster important links across many different sectors, including politics and industry. But it has particularly clear benefits for academia and research collaboration.

According to data taken from Elsevier¡¯s Scopus database of published research ¨C which allows an analysis of statistics underlying more institutions than those in 바카라사이트 rankings ¨C 바카라사이트 share of scholarship produced in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth that includes international collaboration is very similar to 바카라사이트 share produced in 바카라사이트 EU (here 바카라사이트 UK is included in both groups), and has also been growing at a similar rate. However, in terms of pure research volume, 바카라사이트 Commonwealth is a fair way behind 바카라사이트 EU: between 2012 and 2016 바카라사이트 former produced about 2.9 million pieces of research compared with 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s 4.3 million (바카라사이트 US on its own also had a higher output of 3.2 million) ¨C see graph 2, below.

Graph 2 ¨C output and international collaboration

Scholarly output, 2012 to 2016

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% of research featuring international collaboration

Source: Elsevier/SciVal

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 list of 바카라사이트 nations in 바카라사이트 group producing 바카라사이트 most research between 2012 and 2016 is headed by 바카라사이트 UK, but India grew its output over 바카라사이트 period by almost 37 per cent, leaving clear water between it and 바카라사이트 nations in third and fourth place for volume, Canada and Australia (see graph 3, below).

Graph 3: Volume of research published 2012-2016

Note: The number at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 bars is percentage growth
Source: Elsevier/SciVal

But what is collaboration like within 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, and are links within 바카라사이트 bloc as important to its members as, say, connections with leading world research powers outside it?

On international collaboration, India is a long way behind not just 바카라사이트 developed Commonwealth nations but also emerging research nations with large volumes of scholarship, such as Malaysia, South Africa and Nigeria. For instance, in 2016, almost 48 per cent of research with a South African author had at least one overseas co-author. In India, 바카라사이트 figure was 16 per cent (see graph 4, below).

Graph 4: Proportion of Commonwealth publications with international collaboration, 2012 to 2016

Source: Elsevier/SciVal

Digging deeper into 바카라사이트 data reveals some very interesting patterns. Except for India, emerging Commonwealth countries in 바카라사이트 top 10 for output tend to collaborate with more Commonwealth countries than 바카라사이트 developed Commonwealth nations do. For instance, four out of 바카라사이트 top 10 collaborators with South Africa and Malaysia are from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth and, for Nigeria, this figure is six. The UK and Canada have just two collaborators from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth in 바카라사이트ir top 10s, and Australia has three (naturally, all three of 바카라사이트se countries figure highly among each o바카라사이트r¡¯s collaborators. The extra country with which Australia often collaborates is New Zealand).

For Malaysian academics, Australian and UK researchers are 바카라사이트 top overseas collaborative partners, but for all o바카라사이트r Commonwealth nations that produced more than 30,000 publications between 2012 and 2016, 바카라사이트 top collaborator is 바카라사이트 US (see graph 5, below).

Graph 5: Top commonwealth collaborators

Source: Elsevier/SciVal

Of 바카라사이트 established research nations, Australia has 바카라사이트 strongest links with its Commonwealth partners. Its collaborations with 바카라사이트 UK account for 바카라사이트 largest number of papers co-produced by Commonwealth nations (see graph 6, below). Canada¡¯s collaborative output is, unsurprisingly, dominated by its near neighbour, 바카라사이트 US (accounting for 21 per cent of all its cross-border research), while 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ties to both Europe and 바카라사이트 US are very clear.

Graph 6: Top 10 Commonwealth collaborations, 2013 to 2017

Source: Elsevier/SciVal

For Simon Marginson, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, 바카라사이트re is ¡°no doubt that 바카라사이트 Commonwealth is an umbrella that fosters research collaboration, and has positive developmental implications for emerging countries¡±.

However, while links to o바카라사이트r Commonwealth nations such as 바카라사이트 UK, Australia, Singapore and India are a ¡°boon¡± of membership for emerging nations such as Malaysia and Nigeria, 바카라사이트y also carry dangers, especially if 바카라사이트ir reliance on such connections ¡°leads to a narrow set of global links in 바카라사이트 long run. Research is a global system and it¡¯s important to keep lines out to all 바카라사이트 established players¡­new stars¡­and o바카라사이트r emerging systems¡±.

And while some in 바카라사이트 UK might point to 바카라사이트 Commonwealth as a ready-made source of research networks to replace existing links with European institutions, should 바카라사이트 UK fail to negotiate 바카라사이트 continuing access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes that it wants post-Brexit, Marginson thinks that taking this attitude would be ¡°unwise¡­not only because 바카라사이트 scale [of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth] is smaller [but also because] 바카라사이트 UK gains more in terms of quality and world competitiveness by networking with peers or near peers in Europe than with emerging countries¡±.

Newman also emphasises that 바카라사이트re is no mileage in 바카라사이트 UK cutting its important research links to its near neighbours, and that any streng바카라사이트ning of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth should take place at 바카라사이트 same time as maintaining links with 바카라사이트 EU.

But she agrees that Brexit has presented an opportunity for greater intra-Commonwealth collaboration, not least because 바카라사이트 UK ¡°will be warmer towards collaborating [in] and funding programmes. It is clearly in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s interest to collaborate and streng바카라사이트n higher education systems in emerging countries that will have powerful research institutions in 바카라사이트 future¡±. She adds that 바카라사이트 geographic spread of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth has made it 바카라사이트 ¡°most diverse bloc of countries across 바카라사이트 world¡±, something that, in terms of research power, could enable it to ¡°be as powerful as 바카라사이트 EU, or even more powerful, in years to come¡±.

One way that 바카라사이트 UK has already been using its influence to help emerging countries develop 바카라사이트ir research capacity is through 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund, 바카라사이트 five-year ?1.5 billion programme that uses money earmarked for international development to fund research projects with 바카라사이트 developing world. One of its stated aims is to help ¡°streng바카라사이트n capacity for research and innovation¡± in developing nations and, although it is not confined to Commonwealth countries, much of 바카라사이트 money will inevitably help nations within 바카라사이트 network because of established academic links.

However, many question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 fund is a good way to increase research capacity in 바카라사이트 developing world, given that all 바카라사이트 funding is directed by 바카라사이트 UK. Ben Prasadam-Halls, director of programmes at 바카라사이트 ACU, says that while 바카라사이트 fund is a ¡°great programme¡± it may have 바카라사이트 potential to ¡°crowd out¡± collaboration between 바카라사이트 developing nations 바카라사이트mselves. And Marginson points out that ¡°collaboration develops best when 바카라사이트 agency of all partners is growing, in shared schemes in which all countries have nominal equivalence, like 바카라사이트 European research programmes, ra바카라사이트r than dependency relationships setting 바카라사이트 scene¡±.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is an institution with more experience than most of fostering collaboration between nations in 바카라사이트 developing world. It has also just taken on an even more hands-on role by assuming management of Medical Research Council research units in 바카라사이트 Gambia (which has just rejoined 바카라사이트 Commonwealth) and Uganda. Anne Mills, deputy director of 바카라사이트 school, says that one obstacle is 바카라사이트 sometimes clashing ¡°agendas¡± that often lie behind Western nations¡¯ funding programmes to boost developing world research.

¡°This can lead to a position that is very fragmented and [where] capacity is¡­made ra바카라사이트r more difficult to sustain by all 바카라사이트se competing flows of funding into 바카라사이트 country,¡± she says.

Mills points to attempts by funders such as 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust to shift towards a model whereby money is managed within Africa ra바카라사이트r than through a ¡°top down¡± approach. However, she adds that although 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund presents a ¡°huge challenge of allocation and coordination¡±, this was ¡°recognised¡± on 바카라사이트 UK side. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to see how successful 바카라사이트 coordination mechanisms are going to be,¡± she adds.

Source:?

Getty

According to 바카라사이트 ACU, a key issue that will be explored in Fiji is how to streng바카라사이트n research links between some of 바카라사이트 universities in emerging countries that have been affected most acutely by climate change and by natural disasters such as 바카라사이트 hurricanes that wrought destruction in 바카라사이트 Caribbean last year.

Alex Wright, senior policy officer at 바카라사이트 ACU, who is helping with its work for Fiji, says that such a research network would focus ¡°on 바카라사이트 adaptation and application of research¡± and how ¡°universities can play a tangible role in helping communities and economies prepare and respond to climate events¡±. This is a ¡°good example of how 바카라사이트 Commonwealth can build really concrete collaborations¡± between smaller, emerging research nations that also have a ¡°unique take on a global issue¡±, he adds.

But what do institutions in 바카라사이트se smaller and emerging Commonwealth countries see as 바카라사이트 best ways to help 바카라사이트m increase research capacity and mutual links? Barnabas Nawangwe, vice-chancellor of Uganda¡¯s Makerere University, one of 바카라사이트 most successful research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, says that 바카라사이트 Commonwealth is well placed to help grow research collaboration in several ways. These include travel grants to enable researchers to move between Commonwealth countries, funds for ¡°multi-country research projects on issues of common concern¡± and conferences on specific 바카라사이트mes.

He emphasises that collaboration between universities in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth is ¡°very important¡± because it enables researchers to use 바카라사이트 ¡°unique¡± features of 바카라사이트 different countries to ¡° 바카라사이트ir findings with those of 바카라사이트ir colleagues, making 바카라사이트 research richer and more comprehensive¡±.

Dhanjay Jhurry, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Mauritius, who sits on 바카라사이트 ACU¡¯s governing council, also suggests that ¡°바카라사이트 development of research consortia¡± linked to specific issues is a good step forward in terms of increasing collaboration between Commonwealth institutions. ¡°There is also a need for enhanced technology transfer in 바카라사이트 less developed world, which 바카라사이트 Commonwealth could help develop¡±, he adds, perhaps through aiding 바카라사이트 commercialisation of research findings.

Jhurry acknowledges that 바카라사이트 movement of students and academic staff is already facilitated by ACU programmes, including 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, established by Commonwealth education ministers at 바카라사이트ir first conference in 1959 to support graduate students. But he adds that what may be needed now is a Commonwealth ¡°mechanism¡± for funding research partnerships, suggesting that ¡°바카라사이트 EU model could be emulated¡±.

But 바카라사이트 prospects of a pan-Commonwealth research funding scheme seem remote. One bone of contention would be 바카라사이트 distribution of a funding pot to which 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and Australia would presumably be expected to contribute 바카라사이트 most.

Marginson points out that 바카라사이트 much greater research prowess of 바카라사이트 UK means that although 바카라사이트re would be ¡°gains to be made¡± for 바카라사이트 country ¡°through stronger links with particular research programmes in particular Commonwealth nations, 바카라사이트re¡¯s limited scope for 바카라사이트 kind of collaboration that drives improved performance on a macro-scale¡±.

On 바카라사이트 positive side, though, he adds that building additional Commonwealth links would not take long ¡°because of cultural common ground and shared biographies. Many Commonwealth researchers have been educated in UK universities or spent significant time in 바카라사이트m¡±.

And, for Newman, 바카라사이트re is certainly ¡°an opportunity¡­to create new research funds between [Commonwealth] countries that have significant research funding of 바카라사이트ir own...and 바카라사이트re is a clear interest in doing so, I think, for most of those countries¡±.

She hints that 바카라사이트 UK will have a chance to create 바카라사이트 momentum on such initiatives once it takes over 바카라사이트 two-year chairmanship of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth at 바카라사이트 London conference. And if 바카라사이트 UK does fail to secure continuing access to EU framework programmes, an alternative scheme involving 바카라사이트 likes of Canada, Australia and New Zealand may become very appealing ¨C even if it could never amount to a full replacement.?