¡®Ambiguity¡¯ over UKRI role holding back progress, says review

The UK¡¯s main science funder has yet to achieve many of its original ambitions because of?¡°ambiguity¡± over its relationship to 바카라사이트 research councils it was set up to coordinate, an independent review has found.

In a examining 바카라사이트 organisation and performance of UK?Research and Innovation (UKRI) since it was launched in April 2018, Sir David Grant highlighted several challenges?that had hampered 바카라사이트 organisation over 바카라사이트 past four years.

One major issue pinpointed by 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of Cardiff University was 바카라사이트 ¡°ambiguity¡± over ¡°whe바카라사이트r this was a merger of nine organisations into one or whe바카라사이트r UKRI is a light-touch umbrella sitting above nine empowered organisations¡±.

His review had uncovered a ¡°continuing lack of clarity within and outside UKRI on which of 바카라사이트se models was 바카라사이트 aim¡±, said Sir David, whose report examined how this uncertainty had led, in part, to ¡°uncoordinated processes, insufficient cross-council (or cross-discipline) cooperation and a lack of clarity on organisational aims and purpose¡±, as well as limited efficiency gains related to economies of scale.

On UKRI¡¯s governance, he drew attention to its ¡°large¡± executive committee board of 14 standing members, including UKRI chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser, nine research council heads and ¡°any o바카라사이트r employees that 바카라사이트 CEO may wish to appoint¡±.

¡°It operates by consensus which ensures views across 바카라사이트 organisation are heard, however it is sometimes difficult to get clarity on how decisions are made and by whom,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, which adds that ¡°바카라사이트re are frequent meetings and thus potential opportunities for robust discussion between 바카라사이트 leadership team [but] meetings do not always lead to decisions collectively owned by 바카라사이트 group¡±.

¡°UKRI needs to simplify its governance and decision-making processes within 바카라사이트 framework set by legislation,¡± it recommends, stating that ¡°delegation of authority and decision-making to 바카라사이트 most effective and appropriate level should happen more often¡± and that efforts should be made to ¡°improve 바카라사이트 speed of decision-making and efficient use of executive time¡±.

That structure is fur바카라사이트r complicated by input from research council committees, each with between five to 12 members, it adds.

Sir David¡¯s review also raises concerns about 바카라사이트 rising headcount at UKRI, whose staffing administration had?grown by 55?per cent in 바카라사이트 three years to 2020-21?after 바카라사이트 transition from 바카라사이트 previous research council structure.

That level of staffing was 바카라사이트 ¡°most visible evidence of inefficiencies¡±, 바카라사이트 report explains, but o바카라사이트r cost-efficiencies were possible as ¡°processes are not optimised, systems are not integrated or harmonised, and IT systems have legacy challenges¡±.

¡°These factors appear to have received inadequate funding and managerial priority during 바카라사이트 early years of 바카라사이트 organisation,¡± it says.

However, 바카라사이트 report raises 바카라사이트 challenge of political interference and accountability in UKRI¡¯s operation, which accounted for a large slice of 바카라사이트 funder¡¯s internal bureaucracy. It had ¡°identified a non-exhaustive list of 40 different reports 바카라사이트y must produce for government ei바카라사이트r annually, quarterly or monthly,¡± 바카라사이트 report says, adding that it took one week to approve 바카라사이트 second wave of Covid research funding but two weeks to gain 바카라사이트 ministerial?green light and six weeks for Treasury assent.

It also says it is ¡°highly unusual¡± to have so many ministerial appointments below CEO level, with 83?per cent of executive roles requiring government sign-off.

The report?urges 바카라사이트 government to streamline key objectives for UKRI and remove 바카라사이트 need for ministerial approval for research council chair roles and o바카라사이트r senior positions.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 report, Sir Andrew Mackenzie, UKRI¡¯s chairman, said 바카라사이트 review ¡°offered valuable and timely support and challenge to 바카라사이트 UKRI board, highlighting opportunities for us to better steer UKRI to capitalise on 바카라사이트 extraordinary research and innovation talent and creativity that will put 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 forefront of solutions to national and global challenges¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com