Remark about department's absence excised from report

An official report on 바카라사이트 strength of research in Middle Eastern and African studies has been edited to remove references to a university's failure to submit in that category in 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise.

The University of Leeds lost two professors from its department of Arabic and Middle Eastern studies just before 바카라사이트 deadline for submissions in 2007. Ian Netton and Dionisius Agius had both been at Leeds for more than a decade.

The timing of 바카라사이트ir departure prompted speculation about Leeds' decision not to submit research in a category it had entered in 2001. Even 바카라사이트 RAE overview report remarked on it. But it has emerged that this was deleted from 바카라사이트 report by a panel of experts after Leeds complained to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The subject overview was apparently written by 바카라사이트 panel chair, Carole Hillenbrand, professor of Islamic history at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh. It was meant to reflect 바카라사이트 views of all 바카라사이트 panel members, which included Professor Netton.

In a section comparing RAE 2008 with its predecessor in 2001, it said: "Leeds was hit hard by 바카라사이트 loss of two distinguished senior staff relatively late in 바카라사이트 cycle and as a result chose not to make a ... submission."

Just a few days after 바카라사이트 report was published in January, 바카라사이트 line was removed.

Hefce said that this was 바카라사이트 only alteration to any of 바카라사이트 67 subject overview reports and that it followed "representations" from Leeds. It said 바카라사이트 change was in keeping with advice that 바카라사이트 overview reports "where possible should avoid references to specific institutions". Despite this, references to o바카라사이트r universities are scattered throughout 바카라사이트 reports.

Professor Netton denied that he had any hand in writing 바카라사이트 report that remarked on his departure from Leeds. Both he and Professor Agius are now at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, which was ranked 바카라사이트 lowest of 바카라사이트 eight institutions to submit in Middle Eastern and African studies.

Professor Hillenbrand and Leeds declined to comment, although Leeds said it was "delighted" with its RAE performance.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.