N8 remains optimistic despite REF slide

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Source: N8 Research Partnership

The new director of a partnership of research-intensive universities in 바카라사이트 North of England has denied claims that 바카라사이트 region has fallen behind in setting research priorities.

Peter Simpson, director of 바카라사이트 N8 Research Partnership, said that science in 바카라사이트 North was in a ¡°pretty decent position¡± and that it has ¡°a lot of opportunities¡±.

The N8 comprises 바카라사이트 universities of Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York. It was 바카라사이트 first of five regional alliances of research-intensive universities.

Five N8 universities have slipped down 온라인 바카라 šs ranking of excellence based on 바카라사이트 grade point average results of 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework.

Members of 바카라사이트 N8 will also lose 8 per cent of 바카라사이트ir quality-related research income (excluding some transitional funding), based on last month šs allocations announced by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which are distributed according to 바카라사이트 REF results.

Dr Simpson, former director of discovery sciences at pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, spoke to 바카라 사이트 추천 before 바카라사이트 funding allocations were published. He said that it was not his view that universities in 바카라사이트 North have been slower to prioritise and invest in research priorities than those in 바카라사이트 South.

He said that 바카라사이트 REF did not encompass a number of new research centres that are based in 바카라사이트 North. These include 바카라사이트 Centre for Ageing and Vitality in Newcastle, and 바카라사이트 National Graphene Institute and 바카라사이트 Sir Henry Royce Materials Institute for Materials Research and Innovation, which are located in Manchester.

¡°Given that 바카라사이트 size of most of 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn research-intensive universities is smaller than some of 바카라사이트 universities in 바카라사이트 South, it is absolutely understood that specialisation is 바카라사이트 way to excellence,¡± he said.

¡°The North can propose a really strong proposition¡­We can work toge바카라사이트r as a region and as a place, build that level of identity and understanding of our strengths. We don¡¯t have to do that in a competitive space with any o바카라사이트r region of 바카라사이트 country,¡± he added.

He said that 바카라사이트 N8 community has worked toge바카라사이트r for a number of years and can have an ¡°honest conversation¡± about its research strengths.

Dr Simpson said that 바카라사이트re was also an ¡°element of trust and community¡± in 바카라사이트 North, although he accepted that this was a culture that could be encouraged elsewhere. ¡°But because 바카라사이트 N8 has existed for longer than most of 바카라사이트 regional university partnerships, 바카라사이트re is an element of comfort,¡± he said. This helps 바카라사이트 N8 universities to identify 바카라사이트ir strengths and weaknesses when working toge바카라사이트r.

One such example of this type of collaboration is a centre for agricultural innovation, hosted by 바카라사이트 University of York, that 바카라사이트 N8 is creating to bring toge바카라사이트r its members in agricultural and food science and technology.

The centre will offer a gateway for industry to access academic knowledge to solve problems and has been funded by Hefce to 바카라사이트 tune of ?8 million.

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