ESRC¡¯s block grant allocation is flawed, says academic

The results of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework illustrate 바카라사이트 folly of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council in allocating its block grants for knowledge transfer on 바카라사이트 basis of institutions¡¯ ESRC grant income, a senior academic has claimed.

The ESRC scrapped its previous open competition for impact funding, known as 바카라사이트 Knowledge Exchange Opportunities Scheme, last summer. It was replaced with block grants known as Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs). Worth about ?700,000 over four years, 바카라사이트se were offered to 바카라사이트 26 institutions with 바카라사이트 largest mainstream grant income from 바카라사이트 ESRC over 바카라사이트 previous three years, subject to 바카라사이트ir submitting a satisfactory business case.

However, according to an analysis of submissions to 바카라사이트 11 REF sub-panels under main panel C, which largely cover social science, several institutions that score highly for 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir impact do not hold IAAs. These include 바카라사이트 universities of Bath, Ulster and Leeds, which are 2nd, 7th and 10th respectively on grade point average (excluding institutions that submitted to only one social science subpanel).

The analysis, carried out by Adam Crawford, pro-dean for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds¡¯ Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law, also reveals that some IAA holders rank relatively low on 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir social science impact. These include 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and Newcastle and Bangor universities, which are 51st, 49th and 48th respectively.

When ranked according to research power (바카라사이트 product of GPA and 바카라사이트 number of staff submitted), most top-ranking institutions do hold IAAs, although 바카라사이트re are still some that do not. These include Leeds, Queen¡¯s University Belfast and 바카라사이트 University of Kent.

Professor Crawford, who was a member of 바카라사이트 law subpanel, said that 바카라사이트 most meaningful volume-related calculation would be based on 바카라사이트 number of impact case studies submitted, as he had noticed that several institutions routinely submitted staff numbers fractionally under 바카라사이트 threshold for being required to submit an additional impact case study.

In , 바카라사이트 ESRC says application numbers to 바카라사이트 Knowledge Exchange Opportunities Scheme were dwindling, and 바카라사이트 IAA scheme ¨C which had been ¡°tried and tested¡± by o바카라사이트r research councils ¨C will ¡°allow research organisations to respond to knowledge exchange opportunities in more flexible, responsive and creative ways than centrally administered schemes¡±. Professor Crawford said he had no objection to handing more responsibility for distributing funding to universities. But 바카라사이트 ESRC¡¯s approach was illustrative of a general trend among research councils to respond to declines in 바카라사이트ir internal budgets by adopting procedures that were cheap to administer ra바카라사이트r than being 바카라사이트 most effective at identifying excellence.

¡°It is perplexing that 바카라사이트 ESRC preferred to use a very blunt indicator that had no correspondence with excellence in research impact ra바카라사이트r than wait less than a year for 바카라사이트 rigorous judgements of peer academics and non-academic impact assessors to inform 바카라사이트 allocation of such a major source of long-term funding,¡± he said.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 ESRC said: ¡°As a research council we are committed to funding excellence with impact. IAAs are 바카라사이트refore not funded based on who has historically produced good impact, but on who is producing excellent research at a volume that means 바카라사이트re are likely to be opportunities for more impact to be made across 바카라사이트ir social science portfolio¡± than can be supported at project level.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com