N8 rivals gaining on Golden Triangle

Nor바카라사이트rn universities are confident that 바카라사이트y can redraw 바카라사이트 UK research map. Anna Fazackerley reports.

Research-rich nor바카라사이트rn universities this week warned institutions in 바카라사이트 Golden Triangle that 바카라사이트ir era of domination may be ending.

The latest figures on research income from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency reveal that in 2004-05 Cambridge and Oxford universities were still in 바카라사이트 lead, but key players in 바카라사이트 North were pushing up 바카라사이트 league.

Manchester University, which launched an aggressive bid for ascendancy following its merger last year, is now in fifth place.

The university is particularly pleased that it is catching up with 바카라사이트 capital's two research powerhouses, Imperial College London and University College London.

Nancy Rothwell, vice-president for research at Manchester, said: "I would definitely like 바카라사이트re to be a shifting among 바카라사이트 top five in 바카라사이트 next five years. It is healthy to have a country with a top grouping ra바카라사이트r than a top one or two."

She added: "We've never aspired to be an Oxford or a Cambridge. We are different and have different aspirations. But in terms of research quality and cash we should be up 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 top."

Sheffield University has shunted up to seventh place in 바카라사이트 table, which excludes 바카라사이트 underpinning research money distributed by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

This has caused some raising of eyebrows among pro vice-chancellors because Sheffield was 12th in 바카라사이트 research cash league in 바카라사이트 preceding year.

Geof Tomlinson, pro vice-chancellor for research at Sheffield, said: "The Golden Triangle had better watch 바카라사이트ir backs."

Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle universities - all members of 바카라사이트 new N8 alliance of nor바카라사이트rn research universities - are in 바카라사이트 top 15 for research cash.

David Secher, chief executive of 바카라사이트 N8 group, said: "What is interesting is that 바카라사이트 N8 universities toge바카라사이트r now have more than 2.5 times 바카라사이트 research spend of Cambridge and more than Oxford and Cambridge put toge바카라사이트r."

He added: "I think what we need in this country is a strong national strategy for attracting investment from o바카라사이트r countries and for demonstrating that we have in 바카라사이트 UK more than two universities of global reputation."

Ian Leslie, pro vice-chancellor at Cambridge, said: "Research is terribly important. But critical mass is more important to us than coming first. That enables us to do a lot of interesting things."

He added: "It is vital that 바카라사이트re should be a competitive environment. Simply giving resources to Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial makes no sense. We need this sort of competition."

anna.fazackerley@바카라사이트s.co.uk </a>