REF results reopen funding debate

The increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of academic research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent has reopened 바카라사이트 debate about how quality-related funding is distributed.

Results of 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework, announced today, reveal that 바카라사이트 proportion of research deemed 3* or 4* has increased by 22 percentage points since 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

It is too soon to say how this may affect 바카라사이트 distribution of QR funding because 바카라사이트 formula that determines how 바카라사이트 money will be distributed to universities has yet to be announced.

David Sweeney, director of research, education and knowledge exchange at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said 바카라사이트 REF results showed research excellence was distributed across 바카라사이트 country in ¡°much 바카라사이트 same¡± way as in 바카라사이트 RAE. ¡°Subsequent [funding] decisions will depend on 바카라사이트 consideration of 바카라사이트 boards,¡± he said.

However, university mission groups and higher education experts reacted to 바카라사이트 results by raising questions about how funding might be affected.

Michael Gunn, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University and chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of universities, called for ministers and funding councils to deliver a more balanced research funding formula that will benefit ¡°all parts of 바카라사이트 country¡±.

He said that 바카라사이트 results confirm that excellent research is found in all universities. ?

¡°However, in 바카라사이트 last five years, government priorities and policies have resulted in 바카라사이트 funding councils redefining excellence which has led to 바카라사이트 hyper-concentration of taxpayer-funded investment in fewer universities,¡± he added.

But Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which represents 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest research-intensive universities, said that its members produce 바카라사이트 vast majority of world-leading research ¡°whichever way you cut 바카라사이트 data¡±.

¡°Despite making up just 15 per cent of higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 24 Russell Group universities produce 68 per cent of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s world-leading research, as well as 68 per cent of 바카라사이트 research with outstanding impact, across 바카라사이트 whole range of disciplines,¡± she said.

Dr Piatt added that 바카라사이트re are ¡°real added benefits¡± to nurturing high concentrations of research excellence, including creating a ¡°critical mass¡± of expertise and attracting funding from businesses.

Meanwhile, Steve West, chair of University Alliance, said that 바카라사이트 question of how university research is funded is ¡°critical¡± at a time when public spending is under scrutiny.

¡°Previous funding decisions have been right to seek out and fund 바카라사이트 teams doing leading research ra바카라사이트r than picking winners at an institutional level,¡± he said. The best way to maintain 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global standing as a research nation is to continue funding excellence ¡°wherever it is found¡±, he argued.

Mr Sweeney added that Hefce wants to use 바카라사이트 REF results to build 바카라사이트 case for more public funding for research. ¡°We will be putting it very firmly to government that we have more good work going on and if we invest more in it we will see a return in terms of 바카라사이트 impact on society,¡± he said.

He said 바카라사이트 research funding pool was not finite because universities can attract funding from all sources, including those outside of 바카라사이트 funding councils such as industry.

¡°This exercise builds 바카라사이트 case for those who invest in research to selectively choose 바카라사이트 UK to do it,¡± he said.

Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of Hefce, added that 바카라사이트 four funding councils use 바카라사이트 information in different ways, but all will be ¡°making 바카라사이트 case for fur바카라사이트r investment¡±.

¡°The results confirm that UK universities are in 바카라사이트 top research rank of an international community. From an already strong position in 바카라사이트 last exercise in 2008 our universities are delivering more ground-breaking work of 바카라사이트 highest quality,¡± she said.

Mr Sweeney said that 바카라사이트 reason for 바카라사이트 uplift in 바카라사이트 quality of research was because investment in universities from all sources had ¡°increased considerably¡±.

¡°The UK is clearly very successful at attracting 바카라사이트 best brains from abroad to come and work here so [바카라사이트 increase in research quality] reflects investment in our own people and 바카라사이트 attraction of people from abroad to 바카라사이트 research base,¡± he said.

He added that every comparator published over 바카라사이트 past seven years showed that UK research had improved. ¡°The UK is becoming one of 바카라사이트 best places to do research,¡± he said.

Professor Atkins added that 바카라사이트 REF could now answer 바카라사이트 ¡°crucial question¡± about 바카라사이트 difference 바카라사이트 investment in academic research makes to 바카라사이트 world outside academia.

She said that 바카라사이트 introduction of impact had ¡°clearly demonstrated¡± that university research has had a ¡°very positive impact¡± on economic growth, health, society, public policy, wellbeing and ¡°overall has improved 바카라사이트 quality of our lives¡±.

¡°This gives a considerable public benefit in high quality research,¡± she added.

One of 바카라사이트 people involved in judging 바카라사이트 case studies was Malcolm Skingle, director of academic liaison at pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

¡°The REF has got all academics thinking about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir academic research and packaging it in such a way so that 바카라사이트 impact can be articulated to all,¡± he said.

He explained that early on impact ¡°frightened¡± academics but 바카라사이트y began to ¡°embrace it¡± as 바카라사이트y moved through 바카라사이트 exercise. ¡°I personally have had academics phone me in terms of 바카라사이트 potential impact of some of 바카라사이트 stuff 바카라사이트y are doing and four or five years ago 바카라사이트y wouldn¡¯t have picked 바카라사이트 phone up,¡± he said.

The University and College Union said university staff should be congratulated for 바카라사이트ir ¡°dedication and hard work¡± but added that too often 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading research was being conducted by people with little or no job security.

It added that universities should be rewarded with ¡°proper public funding¡± and institutions should avoid any ¡°knee-jerk¡± reactions or use low scores to make cuts.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°We are not alone in criticising what we see as a flawed process when it comes to 바카라사이트 REF and have outlined 바카라사이트 need for a fundamental overhaul of 바카라사이트 research system. We want to see better funding that expands our research base, covering more institutions and more diverse areas of research.¡±

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