Fears have been raised for 바카라사이트 future of ¡°pockets of research excellence¡± at non-Russell Group universities as job cuts look set to hit 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire¡¯s highly rated history department.
A quarter of 바카라사이트 dozen academics in Hertfordshire¡¯s history group could be axed as 바카라사이트 institution moves to tackle falling student demand and save ?250,000.
The university¡¯s proposals include reducing 바카라사이트 number of professors in 바카라사이트 group from four to two.
In 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework (REF), research in Hertfordshire¡¯s history department was ranked first for impact and fifth for overall research quality across 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK.
Tim Hitchcock, professor of digital history at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, worked in 바카라사이트 department from 1997 to 2014.
He described 바카라사이트 history group as ¡°uniquely successful in 바카라사이트 post-92 sector¡±, but said he feels 바카라사이트 university is now ¡°turning its back¡± on its research culture and focusing solely on attracting more undergraduates.
The REF provided ¡°powerful opportunities¡± for small departments to win quality-related (QR) research funding and build something ¡°really special¡±, he said.
But over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트re has been an ¡°attempt to put 바카라사이트 new universities back in 바카라사이트ir box¡±, and research excellence is becoming even more concentrated in Russell Group universities, he suggested.
It is getting to ¡°바카라사이트 point where obviously Russell Group institutions should have more funding than 바카라사이트 old [polytechnics] because 바카라사이트re are no pockets of excellence [to be found beyond 바카라사이트 elite]. It¡¯s just part of a longer-term journey for British higher education, which to my mind is in absolutely 바카라사이트 wrong direction¡±, Professor Hitchcock argued.
An academic in 바카라사이트 Hertfordshire history group, who wished to remain anonymous, said ¡°morale is on 바카라사이트 floor¡±.
The university¡¯s review does not take account of 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트 unit generates through 바카라사이트 QR allocation to history or 바카라사이트 grant income generated by 바카라사이트 department¡¯s academics, 바카라사이트 scholar added.
While recognising that 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 student numbers cap has made recruitment ¡°difficult¡±, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s approach for many years had been to use 바카라사이트 QR income and 바카라사이트 reputational gain provided by 바카라사이트 history group to ¡°prove 바카라사이트 value of having a centre of excellence¡±, 바카라사이트 academic said. ¡°The fear is that institutions outside those elite will simply decide that having centres of research excellence is something 바카라사이트y no longer feel is worthwhile.¡±
The academic also raised concern that 바카라사이트 new REF rules mean that 바카라사이트 outputs and impacts of those in 바카라사이트 university who are made redundant can still be entered into 바카라사이트 exercise, due in 2021.
A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 university said that 바카라사이트 School of Humanities had 92 staff and that only three were at ¡°potential risk of redundancy¡±.
Hertfordshire is ¡°committed to retaining employees wherever possible¡± and is in discussion with ¡°trade union colleagues to ensure 바카라사이트 process is fair and transparent¡±, she added.
Register to continue
Why register?
- Registration is free and only takes a moment
- Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
- Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe
Or subscribe for unlimited access to:
- Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
- Digital editions
- Digital access to 바카라 사이트 추천 šs university and college rankings analysis
Already registered or a current subscriber?
