Reform of research funding formula will benefit elites, says REF critic

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Lion¡¯s share: downgrading 3* research may affect staff selection and funding

Tweaking 바카라사이트 formula that allocates quality-related funding based on 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework is likely to put pressure on universities to take a more selective approach to submitting staff in future assessments, according to one observer.

Derek Sayer, a professor of history and an author, believes that 바카라사이트 move will fur바카라사이트r concentrate research funding among top universities.

But o바카라사이트rs maintain that 바카라사이트 concentration of funding will remain largely unchanged from that seen after 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England released 바카라사이트 initial details of 바카라사이트 formula that will be used to allocate 바카라사이트 ?1 billion pot of QR funding for university research on 20 February. Among 바카라사이트 changes from 바카라사이트 RAE is a boost in 바카라사이트 weighting given to world-leading, or 4*, research.

The relative quality weighting for internationally excellent (3*) and 4* research will change from 3:1 to 4:1.

Professor Sayer said that downgrading 바카라사이트 importance of 3* research will intensify staff selection, an area that caused ¡°major divisiveness and controversy¡± in REF 2014.

The move will fur바카라사이트r concentrate research funding among 바카라사이트 top universities in a similar way that axeing funding for 2* research in 2012-13 did, he added. ¡°The REF continues to be an extremely expensive exercise through which academic elites maintain and legitimise 바카라사이트ir position,¡± he said.

But Rama Thirunamachandran, vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University and a former director for research, innovation and skills at Hefce, said that concentration levels ¡°will be about 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트y are now¡±.

¡°They won¡¯t increase because 바카라사이트 change in 바카라사이트 ratio is largely going to reflect that 바카라사이트re has been a significant increase in 4* and 3* quality research,¡± he said.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of newer universities, said that 바카라사이트 Hefce board has been ¡°clearly conscious¡± of 바카라사이트 fact that research funding has been concentrated in recent years and has sought to work on 바카라사이트 principle of funding excellence.

¡°However, we are a long way from a system which supports research infrastructure in all universities and a stream of funding for 바카라사이트 translational research that supports regional growth,¡± she added.

David Sweeney, director for research, education and knowledge exchange at Hefce, allayed fears that 바카라사이트 increase in volume of 4* research in 바카라사이트 medical and life sciences could divert funding from o바카라사이트r subjects.

He added that 바카라사이트se subjects would see only a ¡°very small increase¡± in funding because 바카라사이트 total volume of 3* and 4* research, on 바카라사이트 basis of which funding is split between 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s main panels, was ¡°not significantly higher¡± in 바카라사이트 life sciences than in 바카라사이트 physical sciences, while 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 explicit protections for science and engineering subjects introduced in 바카라사이트 RAE would benefit 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences.

Professor Thirunamachandran said it was right that a cut of 11 per cent made to arts, humanities and social sciences funding after 바카라사이트 RAE, to top up funding for science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects where research volume had fallen, is not to be continued.

¡°We need to recognise 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences to 바카라사이트 economy,¡± he said.

holly.else@tesglobal.com