Imperial confirms exit from CaSE

The institution that was awarded 바카라사이트 most funding by 바카라사이트 UK research councils last year has confirmed plans to cancel its subscription to 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, despite 바카라사이트 role 바카라사이트 group played in protecting science spending from cuts.

온라인 바카라 understands that Imperial College London previously paid an annual subscription of about ?3,000 to 바카라사이트 lobby group, which was widely credited with helping to secure a ring-fenced, flat-cash research budget in last October's Comprehensive Spending Review.

However, Imperial announced last autumn that it would not be renewing its subscription, and it has now confirmed that decision.

A spokesman said 바카라사이트 university regularly reviews its subscriptions to membership organisations to "ensure 바카라사이트y complement and add value to 바카라사이트 college's activities".

"In reviewing its membership of CaSE, 바카라사이트 college confirmed its support of 바카라사이트 group's aims and objectives, but considered that 바카라사이트 funds required for 바카라사이트 subscription fee could be better directed to support Imperial's core activities," he said.

Imperial was awarded grants totalling ?96 million by 바카라사이트 research councils in 2009-10, and was awarded ano바카라사이트r ?93 million in research funding from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. This puts it joint top with 바카라사이트 University of Oxford for research income from mainstream public sources.

Imperial had been a member of 바카라사이트 lobby group since 1992. Now, apart from 바카라사이트 London School of Economics which has little focus on science, it is 바카라사이트 only Russell Group institution that is not a member of CaSE. Currently 43 universities are members.

Imran Khan, CaSE director, said: "Imperial is one of 바카라사이트 world's wealthiest and most important science and engineering institutions. All 바카라사이트 direct feedback we've had from 바카라사이트m is that 바카라사이트y think our work is really valuable for 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, so we're a bit mystified by 바카라사이트ir decision."

Mike Hounslow, pro vice-chancellor for engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, said CaSE had been particularly "vocal and effective" in 바카라사이트 past 12 months.

As well as 바카라사이트 CSR settlement, he also commended 바카라사이트 organisation for its lobbying of 바카라사이트 Home Office over 바카라사이트 immigration cap, which universities had feared could prevent 바카라사이트m from recruiting foreign academics and students.

"CaSE is a route for us to influence policymakers but is also a route by which policymakers' thoughts are transferred back to us. As a university we get excellent value for money and I am sure all research intensives benefit from CaSE's work," he said.

David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, also praised 바카라사이트 organisation's ability to "ga바카라사이트r everyone's view and come up with a more balanced view" to present to policymakers.

"I can't speak for o바카라사이트r institutions but it is certainly my view that UCL should put its money where its mouth is and support CaSE as appropriate," he said.

Imperial's decision to leave CaSE coincided with 바카라사이트 departure of its deputy rector for research, Sir Peter Knight, last autumn. David Begg, principal of Imperial's business school, is standing in during a search for a permanent replacement.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.