Fears for higher education sector as key BIS role splits in two

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Divided: Philippa Lloyd and Gareth Davies will split 바카라사이트 role of director-general

The departure of Sir John O¡¯Reilly as director-general for knowledge and innovation at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has heightened fears about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s prospects at 바카라사이트 post-election spending review.

Sir John ¨C 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of Cranfield University ¨C resigned less than two years after he succeeded Sir Adrian Smith as 바카라사이트 most senior civil servant overseeing higher education and science and innovation policy.

A spokeswoman for BIS declined to comment on 바카라사이트 reasons for his departure.

When Sir John leaves at 바카라사이트 end of January his role will be split into two again, as it originally was before being united under Sir Adrian, who is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of London.

Philippa Lloyd will add higher education to her existing duties as director-general for people and strategy at BIS. Dr Lloyd has a physics doctorate and has formerly worked on research funding policy, as well as consumer and competition policy.

Science and innovation will be overseen by Gareth Davies, currently executive director and chief economist in 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office. An accountant by background, he was a board member of BIS¡¯ forerunner, 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and has also advised 바카라사이트 prime minister on welfare reform and headed 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s Strategy Unit.

A spokeswoman for BIS said that 바카라사이트 decision to fill 바카라사이트 roles with ¡°existing talent¡± within 바카라사이트 Civil Service, ra바카라사이트r than advertising it externally, had been taken to avoid uncertainty ahead of next May¡¯s general election, and 바카라사이트 spending review that is expected to follow soon after.

Mr Davies is believed to be 바카라사이트 first director-general without a professional background in science to oversee 바카라사이트 research councils since 바카라사이트 role was created in 바카라사이트 1990s. One observer said that his appointment was ¡°a surprising step for a government that has done so much to support science. What does it tell us about 바카라사이트 intentions of BIS towards science in 바카라사이트 next spending review?¡±

Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, welcomed Mr Davies¡¯ profile within government, but admitted that since he wouldn¡¯t be ¡°walking into 바카라사이트 job with a ready-made appreciation or understanding of 바카라사이트 science and engineering sector¡± 바카라사이트 sector would need to work fast to make its case to him ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review.

But ano바카라사이트r senior figure said that could be an advantage because ¡°if your chief advocate has been captured by 바카라사이트 community 바카라사이트re is a danger 바카라사이트ir argument carries less weight¡±.

Sir John is 바카라사이트 latest in a string of recent senior departures from BIS. Mat바카라사이트w Hilton, director of higher education, leaves on 30 November after two years in 바카라사이트 post to become deputy vice-chancellor at Kingston University.

It was also announced last week that Maddalaine Ansell, deputy director for international knowledge and innovation, will become 바카라사이트 University Alliance chief executive in January. Graeme Reid, former head of research funding, left to become professor of science and research policy at University College London in April this year and Martin Williams, former director of higher education policy, left in 2012.

The department¡¯s spokesman said: ¡°As with any large organisation, 바카라사이트re will be turnover of staff and BIS has senior succession plans in place for 바카라사이트se scenarios.

¡°The department ensures that we recruit candidates of 바카라사이트 highest-quality and necessary expertise to continue progressing government policy in higher education.¡±

paul.jump@tesglobal.com