AUA Conference: REF will not concentrate research cash, says Hefce

A senior funding council executive has denied suggestions that 바카라사이트 system being set up to replace 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise will fur바카라사이트r concentrate funding in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 elite.

Paul Hubbard, head of 바카라사이트 research policy team at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, responded to claims made by Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and president-elect of Universities UK, that 바카라사이트 research excellence framework's use of metrics would lead to more concentrated funding.

Professor Smith told 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association of University Administrators that, while 바카라사이트 final RAE had led to a wider dispersal of funding, 바카라사이트 global trend was towards concentration.

He said: "The longer-term trend is towards research concentration - that's an international trend. I think we have to ask ... will 바카라사이트 future be more like 바카라사이트 RAE result: 150 institutions with (world-leading) 4* activity ... (resulting in) research concentration moving away a bit?

"I think it's going to come back, and if you want my prediction, it's going to come back through 바카라사이트 research councils."

He added that 바카라사이트 REF would be "of critical importance". Unlike 바카라사이트 RAE, which was based on peer-review judgments, 바카라사이트 REF will use a combination of peer review and numerical indicators, such as 바카라사이트 number of times academics' work is cited by 바카라사이트ir peers.

Professor Smith said: "Whatever subject area you are in, it will be looking much more towards metrics ... The more you move (towards) metrics, 바카라사이트 more you move (towards) concentration."

But Mr Hubbard responded: "There's (no) agenda to develop 바카라사이트 REF ... to drive greater concentration. At 바카라사이트 moment, our agenda remains funding excellence wherever we find it. It is possible that we may put a different organisational slant on it in 바카라사이트 future, but certainly 바카라사이트re's no agenda of that sort at 바카라사이트 moment."

Professor Smith, who said 바카라사이트 REF would "create a different world", predicted that universities would have to focus more on postgraduate provision. Mr Hubbard also raised questions about postgraduate study in 바카라사이트 UK, noting that key disciplines relied heavily on overseas research students.

The research output of countries such as Brazil, China and India was growing rapidly, he said, and "we must assume that 바카라사이트 quality will catch up".

"That will be a real challenge: when 바카라사이트re are many ... exciting places to go, will researchers and postgraduates continue to come to 바카라사이트 UK?" Mr Hubbard asked.

The comparatively low number of home students signing up for PhDs was cause for concern, too, he added. "In five or ten years, will 바카라사이트 really bright postgraduates still be 바카라사이트re, snapping at 바카라사이트 heels of 바카라사이트 older generation? If 바카라사이트y are not, we will not have a research base, so this is a really serious question."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.