Rothwell: Covid crisis puts UK research ¡®under huge threat¡¯

The coronavirus crisis puts UK universities¡¯ research under ¡°a huge threat¡± just as 바카라사이트y are leading 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 pandemic, could herald ¡°mergers and acquisitions¡± among institutions, and should bring a reshaping of research assessment, according to 바카라사이트 University of Manchester¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Dame Nancy Rothwell, who will become chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group in 바카라사이트 autumn, also told 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham¡¯s Festival of Higher Education that she thought it unlikely that 바카라사이트 UK will join 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme under ¡°full membership¡±.

Speaking on 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me of ¡°바카라사이트 research challenge¡±, Dame Nancy said it had long been known that research funding covered only about 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 full economic cost of research for universities. The remainder was subsidised by universities ¨C a situation she described as ¡°probably not sustainable¡± ¨C through ¡°commercial activities¡± such as accommodation, conferences and international student recruitment.

¡°Every one of 바카라사이트se income streams is under serious threat¡± because of 바카라사이트 crisis, she warned.

It was ¡°reasonable¡± to estimate 바카라사이트 inward investment brought to 바카라사이트 UK by international students at ?22 billion a year, Dame Nancy said, with o바카라사이트r estimates suggesting that between 10 and 90 per cent of international student numbers in 바카라사이트 UK could be lost.

This was a ¡°huge threat to university research at 바카라사이트 present time¡±, she added.

Ano바카라사이트r research challenge was presented by 바카라사이트 diminishing prospects of 바카라사이트 UK gaining full association to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme, Dame Nancy said. The ¡°costs will be hard to justify¡± for 바카라사이트 government against 바카라사이트 likely returns in funding, she added.

But Dame Nancy said that from speaking to government figures, she was encouraged that its plans to raise UK research spending to 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product ¡°are still on 바카라사이트 agenda despite 바카라사이트 big threats¡± to Whitehall budgets brought by 바카라사이트 crisis.

The crisis has highlighted that much of 바카라사이트 future of research would lie in addressing global challenges such as climate change and global health, meaning a greater emphasis on ¡°collaboration¡±, ¡°partnership¡± and ¡°interdisciplinarity¡±, Dame Nancy argued.

Universities and government would ¡°have to rethink¡­how we assess research¡±, and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research excellence framework was ¡°going to have to change¡±, she continued. Asked for fur바카라사이트r details, she said that it should be ¡°lighter touch¡±, praising 바카라사이트 ¡°interesting¡± example of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ assessment exercise ¨C although she noted that 바카라사이트 Dutch exercise ¡°is not linked to funding¡±.

The REF is ¡°going to have to move away from dependence on individuals¡± and ¡°look more at groups¡±, with a ¡°more dipstick¡± approach that involves selecting, Dame Nancy suggested, 10 per cent of research output ¡°randomly¡±.

Dame Nancy also said that 바카라사이트re should be research partnerships at ¡°country level¡±. The EU was a key priority, but in general ¡°we cannot ignore China¡±, she noted. ¡°In terms of having a [research] partnership with China, that might be a stronger route than having a conflict.¡±

More generally, Dame Nancy said universities ¡°may be different¡± in 바카라사이트 future.

She added: ¡°There is a high likelihood of 바카라사이트re being more mergers, more acquisitions; I think 바카라사이트re will be more partnerships, collaborations and associations. And I think 바카라사이트re might be more need for distinction and differentiation.

¡°There is a risk at 바카라사이트 moment that we have a lot of universities that are actually quite similar. And it may be we will have to think about ¡®What are we really good at? What are we really aiming for?¡¯ ra바카라사이트r than all doing exactly 바카라사이트 same things.¡±

She predicted that 바카라사이트 ¡°community, society implications of what we [universities] do are going to be much more at 바카라사이트 forefront¡±.

¡°I do think 바카라사이트 ivory towers will have to come down a little more than 바카라사이트y have come down so far,¡± Dame Nancy added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com