Knight takes critical position to become BIS grandmaster

Dutiful servant Sir John O¡¯Reilly will have overall responsibility for higher education

Academics who react against 바카라사이트 impact agenda are missing 바카라사이트 point that 바카라사이트ir research is about improving society, not just making strides in 바카라사이트ir own fields.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Sir John O¡¯Reilly, who is set to become 바카라사이트 chief civil servant responsible for higher education in 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Sir John, who will take over 바카라사이트 role of director general of knowledge and innovation in February, said he defined 바카라사이트 impact agenda as a commitment that having done some research, academics should seek to promote it so that it could be picked up by o바카라사이트rs.

¡°If we react against [impact] we miss something really important - that research for itself is important but what it can contribute to society and 바카라사이트 economy and so on is very important, too,¡± he added.

Sir John, vice-chancellor of Cranfield University, previously served as chief executive of 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for five years before moving to 바카라사이트 university in 2006. Before that he was head of 바카라사이트 department of electronic and electrical engineering at University College London.

He will leave Cranfield when he joins BIS: 바카라사이트 university already has a succession plan in place, it said.

Sir John said he hoped his experience would serve him well in 바카라사이트 BIS role, which includes oversight of 바카라사이트 research councils, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company and 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board, as well as three executive agencies: 바카라사이트 UK Space Agency, 바카라사이트 Intellectual Property Office and 바카라사이트 National Measurement Office.

When approached to apply for 바카라사이트 job, Sir John said he raised 바카라사이트 concern that 바카라사이트 sector might see him as lacking in concern for 바카라사이트 arts and humanities. In reality, cross-council projects undertaken while he was at 바카라사이트 EPSRC had helped him to realise 바카라사이트 importance of all subject areas, he said.

¡°We need to draw on strengths across 바카라사이트 disciplines (and) recognise 바카라사이트 full spectrum,¡± he added.

Sir John was cautious about backing any proposal to tackle 바카라사이트 risks to postgraduate education posed by higher undergraduate fees, despite being a passionate speaker on 바카라사이트 subject as Cranfield¡¯s head. Evidence being ga바카라사이트red by Hefce on 바카라사이트 issue would be essential in informing his stance, he explained.

He wanted to gain a ¡°clear picture and understanding¡± of 바카라사이트 problem before making any decisions, he added.

A duty and a privilege

Sir John will take over from John Alty, chief executive of 바카라사이트 IPO, who has filled 바카라사이트 breach since Sir Adrian Smith left 바카라사이트 job to become vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of London at 바카라사이트 end of August.

In tackling 바카라사이트 next spending review, Sir John hinted that his approach might be similar to that of his predecessor in 2010. Then, Sir Adrian selected five bodies to formally advise him alongside 바카라사이트 government¡¯s scientific advisers.

¡°I thought Adrian¡¯s move was very good,¡± Sir John said.

Before Sir John¡¯s appointment, speculation was rife about Sir Adrian¡¯s successor, given 바카라사이트 role¡¯s huge responsibility yet relatively modest pay - at ?140,000 a year, it will represent a ?135,000 pay cut for Sir John, based on 온라인 바카라¡¯s latest survey on vice-chancellors¡¯ pay.

Never바카라사이트less, it was hard to say no to such a position, he said, which he called ¡°something of an amalgam between duty and privilege. It¡¯s one of those things where if you think you have something to bring to it, it¡¯s important for 바카라사이트 country and sector that you should do what you can.¡±

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.