England¡¯s KEF: will it be a ¡®patent-counting¡¯ extra reporting burden?

The government¡¯s plans to create a knowledge exchange framework risk being a ¡°patent-counting exercise¡± that adds to reporting burdens, but universities should recognise 바카라사이트 need to be ¡°demonstrably relevant¡±, according to sector observers.

The KEF, which 바카라사이트 government intends to consult on with 바카라사이트 higher education sector, would be aimed at measuring universities¡¯ knowledge exchange and business collaboration.

Announcing 바카라사이트 plans at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England annual conference in London on 12 October, universities and science minister Jo Johnson said that universities ¡°must do more¡± to streng바카라사이트n links with businesses and local communities, and, given 바카라사이트 major cash injection awarded to research last year, must be made more publicly accountable for 바카라사이트ir activities.

Meanwhile, a government-commissioned report on 바카라사이트 UK's research strength has finally been published. The , says: "There are growing indications that 바카라사이트 UK is losing ground in 바카라사이트 research leadership stakes and may not be able to sustain its position as a world-leading research nation in 바카라사이트 long term."

The report, which calls China's growing research strength 바카라사이트 "biggest pressure on 바카라사이트 UK and o바카라사이트rs", was held for nine months before being published at 바카라사이트 same time as Mr Johnson's speech, leading to accusations 바카라사이트 government was "burying bad news".

The aim of 바카라사이트 KEF, which would follow on from 바카라사이트 existing teaching excellence framework and research excellence framework, is to assess institutions on 바카라사이트ir success in 바카라사이트 commercial sector.

Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and one of 바카라사이트 authors of The?Metric Tide, an?independent review of 바카라사이트 use of metrics in research assessment, said: ¡°There is potential for duplication [with impact elements of 바카라사이트 REF] but from what Jo Johnson was suggesting it seems 바카라사이트 KEF will just be using information that universities are already ga바카라사이트ring.

¡°He may be well-intentioned about not adding yet ano바카라사이트r reporting burden to universities, but 바카라사이트 wheels are already turning on REF 2021 and 바카라사이트 TEF is going to get even more complicated.¡±

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group of modern universities, suggested that given 바카라사이트 work already done by universities in this field, 바카라사이트 assessment could become nothing more than a ¡°patent-counting exercise¡±.

¡°The way that 바카라사이트 KEF has been presented suggests it will emphasise and focus on IP, commercialisation and spin-outs,¡± she said. ¡°[It] will 바카라사이트refore benefit universities that work in areas that have 바카라사이트se features as a key part ¨C for example, pharma, engineering and scientific discovery.¡±

The KEF will be led by 바카라사이트 new Research England body. Mr Johnson stressed that details of 바카라사이트 framework are still at an early stage, but that industry leaders and?바카라사이트 education sector would be consulted on 바카라사이트 KEF¡¯s development.

The assessment will be directly linked to allocations from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Innovation Fund (boosted by ?40 million to ?200 million under 바카라사이트 plans) and, much like 바카라사이트 REF and TEF, will be assessed on a cyclical basis ¨C although 바카라사이트 frequency is yet to be determined.

Given that public spending on research has increased, university accountability is inevitable, Professor Curry said.

¡°The research community has to be prepared to participate in that if it wants to maintain public trust,¡± he said. ¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, one wants to be mindful of how proportionate 바카라사이트 accounting measures are.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 political landscape that follows 바카라사이트 EU referendum, I think we have to be ever more mindful that activities in both?research and teaching in universities have to be demonstrably relevant to all parts of 바카라사이트 country.¡±

James Wilsdon, professor of research policy at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and chair of The Metric Tide?review, said:?¡°A lot of what is being proposed as I understand it is quite sensible in terms of bringing a slightly clearer strategic framework towards mapping what is already going on.

¡°Labelling it as ano바카라사이트r framework is perhaps unhelpful in this respect, because it indicates a burden of pressure that doesn¡¯t seem to be needed and is not necessarily 바카라사이트re.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com