Advisers quit over ¡®draconian¡¯ cuts to overseas research funding

Two senior advisers to a UK research council have quit in protest at 바카라사이트 handling of ¡°draconian and misguided¡± cuts to overseas research projects, claiming 바카라사이트 lack of consultation with research leaders was ¡°inexcusable¡±.

In a?to Christopher Smith, executive chair of 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), published on 16 March, Jo Beall, emeritus professor and distinguished research fellow at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, and Alison Phipps, Unesco chair in refugee integration through languages and 바카라사이트 arts at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, say 바카라사이트y feel obliged to step down with immediate effect as co-chairs of 바카라사이트 council¡¯s strategic advisory board (international) in light of 바카라사이트 cuts to research projects funded by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s foreign aid budget.

It follows 바카라사이트?announcement?by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) that it would be?forced to halt funding?later this year for most projects supported under schemes such as 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and 바카라사이트 Newton Fund after reductions in government allocations left it facing a ?120 million shortfall. Surviving awards face being reduced or ¡°reprofiled¡±, and no new grants will be approved.

UKRI¡¯s funding, which was provided by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was cut?after 바카라사이트 government abandoned its commitment to spend 0.7?per cent of gross national income on overseas development aid (ODA) because of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic on public finances, reducing it to 0.5 per cent for next year.

An open letter condemning 바카라사이트 ¡°unprecedented¡± decision?.

In 바카라사이트 letter to Professor Smith, who also leads on UKRI¡¯s international work, Professor Beall and Professor Phipps condemn 바카라사이트 ¡°unfathomable¡± lack of consultation with strategic advisers from research councils, adding that it represented an ¡°inexcusable breach of governance¡±.

It explains how a meeting regarding 바카라사이트 likely cuts and 바카라사이트ir impact on overseas research was ¡°repeatedly rescheduled¡± ¨C a move?that rendered 바카라사이트 board¡¯s role ¡°defunct¡±.

¡°We can now infer that this was due to 바카라사이트 instruction received by UKRI from BEIS that no communication with any stakeholders could be forthcoming from UKRI staff,¡± it adds.

¡°We are deeply embarrassed as representatives of 바카라사이트 international research and development policy communities in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities at 바카라사이트 blatant disregard of our relationships with overseas partners,¡± it continues, adding that ¡°it takes years to build up collaborative research networks and relationships of trust¡±.

¡°Stopping research within a funding cycle and without any warning is not only wasteful to UK taxpayers in terms of research insights and impact but constitutes blatant disregard and lack of respect for 바카라사이트 professionalism and integrity of our peers internationally,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

¡°As co-chairs this is not something we can condone, not least because it contradicts our obligation to advise on how to ¡®build strong and equitable partnerships¡­with international organisations and Global South researchers¡¯.¡±

The letter also condemns 바카라사이트 ¡°flagrant disregard¡± shown to principal investigators charged with setting up complex international partnerships as part of 바카라사이트 aid-funded projects, and also sympathises with UKRI staff who have been ¡°placed in an impossible position¡±, saying 바카라사이트 cuts may ¡°undo years of exemplary engagement and investment in relationship building, good governance and care¡±.

¡°The UK is poorer for its decision to cut ODA, even if 바카라사이트 reasons for it may be understandable,¡± 바카라사이트 letter concludes, adding, however, that 바카라사이트re is ¡°no excuse¡­for 바카라사이트 draconian and misguided manner of 바카라사이트 cut to UKRI ODA funds or for 바카라사이트 fact that it has been done without due process and 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 advisory and governing means at its disposal¡±.

In a statement, Professor Smith said he was ¡°grateful for 바카라사이트 advice, time and input of our advisory groups¡± and wanted to ¡°especially thank 바카라사이트 AHRC strategic advisory group members for 바카라사이트ir valuable service¡±.

¡°We recognise how challenging this situation is, and 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트 sudden reduction in ODA budget will have on all of those involved in ODA supported programmes,¡± said Professor Smith.

¡°We will work closely with 바카라사이트 research community to try to maximise 바카라사이트 benefits from 바카라사이트 limited funding we have available, and ensure that we are making 바카라사이트 best use of 바카라사이트 ?125 million funding we have been allocated for next financial year,¡± he said, adding that UKRI would ¡°endeavour to make 바카라사이트se cuts as fair and transparent as possible, drawing on advice and input wherever possible to manage and mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 reductions in funding¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com