Binary creep spotted in research funding plans

The Higher Education Funding Council for England currently allocates ?205 million of Research Degree Programme (RDP) funding - which is intended to help meet 바카라사이트 cost of supervising postgraduate research students - on 바카라사이트 basis of student numbers.

The funding council is proposing to bolster that figure in 2012-13 with 바카라사이트 ?35 million that will be freed up by 바카라사이트 withdrawal of quality-related funding currently allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of 2* research. It also wants to restore 바카라사이트 link between RDP allocation and research quality that existed before 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

Hefce would prefer to allocate funding on 바카라사이트 basis of how many research students a department has and how much of its research is rated 3* and 4*.

The funding council is also considering halting an institution's RDP funding entirely if its value exceeds a certain proportion of 바카라사이트 institution's QR allocation.

The consultation document says 바카라사이트 moves are designed "to encourage 바카라사이트 supervision of students in higher-quality research environments" while "protecting 바카라사이트 diversity of provision that our funding supports".

But John Scott, pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth, said 바카라사이트 changes, combined with recent moves by 바카라사이트 research councils to introduce demand management measures and confine doctoral studentships to designated training centres, were part of efforts to concentrate research in a select band of institutions.

"The recreation of a binary system is happening across 바카라사이트 board without this clear and obvious goal being stated or admitted by those responsible," he said.

Alan White, director of 바카라사이트 graduate school at 바카라사이트 University of East London, agreed.

"If enacted, 바카라사이트se proposals will make it harder for post-92s to maintain doctoral activity and will pose ano바카라사이트r threat to our research activity," he said.

Les Ebdon, chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 institutions, said many universities were "seriously concerned" that research concentration had gone too far and would "damage 바카라사이트 seedbeds that produce 바카라사이트 research stars of 바카라사이트 future".

"It is a policy that is as short-sighted as it is mean," he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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