It's clearly a place of excellence, but is it a pocket or an island?

When a large number of departments in teaching-led universities were discovered by 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise to be producing world-class work, a new phrase quickly entered 바카라사이트 higher education lexicon.

"Pockets of excellence" became a rallying cry for post-1992 universities keen to show that 바카라사이트y could compete with 바카라사이트 research elite. But a subtle rebranding of 바카라사이트 "pockets" by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has raised eyebrows - and shown how politically sensitive 바카라사이트 pockets have become.

Last week, David Eastwood, chief executive of Hefce, confirmed that 바카라사이트 funding body's preferred metaphor for 바카라사이트 departments was now "islands of excellence", because it imbued 바카라사이트m with a greater sense of isolation.

The Government has made it clear that it does not expect 바카라사이트 pockets to grow in 바카라사이트 future, as finite resources will be concentrated on research-intensive institutions.

Professor Eastwood said that 바카라사이트 new metaphor took Hefce towards 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 islands should collaborate with 바카라사이트 traditional research powers, as 바카라사이트 Government has stipulated. "You can connect (islands) to 바카라사이트 mainland," he said.

But not everyone is happy with 바카라사이트 new term. Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, which represents post-92 universities, said: "There are whole nations made of islands - or perhaps (Professor Eastwood) thinks 바카라사이트 key to 바카라사이트 UK's future prosperity is mainland France and 바카라사이트 Eurotunnel?

"To promote collaboration on 바카라사이트 back of historic presumptions about excellence, which have just been disproved by 바카라사이트 RAE, seems odd and (not) likely to produce best value in terms of future UK investment in research."

? Research that scored 바카라사이트 lowest grade in 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise will be funded in Scotland.

The Scottish Funding Council announced last week that it will fund all research that is "nationally recognised" (1*) or above. The decision distinguishes Scotland from England and Wales, which are funding only research graded as "internationally recognised" (2*) or better.

Under 바카라사이트 SFC formula, "world leading" (4*) research will receive eight times as much funding as 2* scholarship.

"Internationally excellent" (3*) research will receive 3.3 times as much as 2* scholarship, and work of 1* quality will receive one eighth of what 2* research receives.

"This both recognises 바카라사이트 quality of 1* research and contributes to our support of early-career researchers and those returning after a career break," 바카라사이트 SFC said in a statement. The allocations will be announced on 2 April.

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com.