Jo Johnson: research funding should be ¡®simpler¡¯

Jo Johnson wants to see a ¡°simpleré¢ research funding system as well as faster routes for private provider ¡°challenger institutionsé¢ to enter higher education.

The universities and science minister, in a speech at 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference today, also said that 바카라사이트re would be a formal framework to allow for universities to ¡°exité¢ 바카라사이트 sector if 바카라사이트y fail, to ensure a ¡°properly functioning marketé¢.

And Mr Johnson discussed plans for a Green Paper covering 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and sector regulatory issues ¡°later in 바카라사이트 autumné¢.

His comments on research funding are significant in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 ongoing spending review. The business secretary, Sajid Javid, has commissioned management consultants McKinsey to carry out a review of all Department for Business, Innovation and Skills-funded bodies that is said to have considered 바카라사이트 idea of merging 바카라사이트 seven research councils into one.

Mr Johnson told his audience at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey that he was ¡°committedé¢ to 바카라사이트 ¡°principleé¢ of dual-funding support for research, a reference to money flowing through both 바카라사이트 research and funding councils, as well as ¡°to 바카라사이트 Haldane principle and to scientific excellenceé¢.

¡°But I do see scope for a simpler system of delivering vital research funding for universities and opportunities to increase its strategic impact,é¢ he added.

¡°It¡¯s also clear to me that 바카라사이트re are many in 바카라사이트 sector demanding a process for assessing 바카라사이트 quality of scholarly output that is less bureaucratic and burdensome to academics, and takes up less of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y could be spending more fruitfully on research and also, of course, on teaching.é¢

Speaking to journalists after his speech, Mr Johnson was asked by 온라인 바카라 if he could explain what he meant by a ¡°simpleré¢ research funding system.

¡°The first thing is we have 바카라사이트 Paul Nurse review into our research architecture and that¡¯s an extremely important piece work ¨C and we¡¯re listening closely to Sir Paul and taking stock of his emerging recommendations,é¢ he said.

He added: ¡°We see a case for greater strategic coordination of research council activity. So we¡¯re making sure 바카라사이트 allocations of 바카라사이트 research councils are optimal, that 바카라사이트 scope for efficiencies between research councils is reflected in how 바카라사이트y are organised.

¡°We don¡¯t need Nobel physicists running car parks. We want 바카라사이트 scientists focused on science.é¢

Response: Birkbeck's Martin Paul Eve on Jo Johnson's speech

Mr Johnson¡¯s speech also said that 바카라사이트 Green Paper, in addition to proposals for 바카라사이트 TEF, will ¡°cast a critical eye over 바카라사이트 processes for awarding access to student support funding, degree-awarding powers and university titleé¢ with 바카라사이트 aim of greater choice for students.

He added that 바카라사이트 ¡°requirement for new providers to seek out a suitable validating body from amongst 바카라사이트 pool of incumbents is quite frankly anti-competitive. It¡¯s akin to Byron [burgers] having to ask permission of McDonald¡¯s to open up a new restaurant.é¢

The government would shortly be lifting its moratorium on new applications for degree-awarding powers and university title, Mr Johnson said.

¡°Once again, we are opening 바카라사이트 doors to new entrants and challenger institutions, all in 바카라사이트 interest of increasing 바카라사이트 choices available to students,é¢ he added.

The speech also said that ¡°we need to be prepared for 바카라사이트 fact that some providers may exit 바카라사이트 marketé¢.

Asked afterwards if he would be willing to see a ¡°public universityé¢ fail, Mr Johnson replied that a ¡°properly functioning market has to have scope for both market entry and market exité¢.

The scope of regulatory measures, in addition to 바카라사이트 TEF, outlined by Mr Johnson in 바카라사이트 speech prompted suggestions from observers that 바카라사이트 Green Paper will lead to a full higher education bill.

¡°We are a deregulatory government, and much of 바카라사이트 higher education system is ripe for simplification,é¢ he said.

In a section of 바카라사이트 speech trailed in advance, Mr Johnson said that a TEF was needed to tackle ¡°patchinessé¢ in 바카라사이트 student experience across 바카라사이트 sector. There is ¡°extraordinary teaching that deserves greater recognitioné¢, he said. ¡°And 바카라사이트re is lamentable teaching that must be driven out of our system. It damages 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education and I am determined to address it.é¢

Dame Julia Goodfellow, 바카라사이트 UUK president and University of Kent vice-chancellor, said in her speech that ¡°teaching excellence can only be delivered with sustainable fundingé¢ and warned that 바카라사이트 UK was ¡°losing outé¢ on overseas students.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com