Russell Group chair wants ¡®sustainable, agile¡¯ research funding

The new chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group is urging 바카라사이트 UK government to bring in ¡°sustainable¡± research funding and make 바카라사이트 assessment system ¡°more agile¡±, as well as calling for stronger international research partnerships between 바카라사이트 UK and growing powerhouses such as China.

Dame Nancy Rothwell, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester vice-chancellor, who became chair of 바카라사이트 group of 24 research-intensive universities in September, told 온라인 바카라 바카라사이트re was ¡°complete uncertainty¡± over international student numbers amid travel and visa disruption during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis, spotlighting 바카라사이트 major issue of cross-subsidy for research funding from overseas fees.

Asked what key messages she has been stressing to 바카라사이트 government in her new role, Dame Nancy said Russell Group institutions faced a ¡°potential struggle with international students¡± and were ¡°very worried about maintaining 바카라사이트 research base¡±.

¡°They [ministers] are very aware of?that; 바카라사이트y¡¯re very receptive to [that argument],¡± Dame Nancy said.

¡°We absolutely want to contribute to 바카라사이트 recovery, to building back better, to 바카라사이트 British economy, to net zero, to levelling up ¨C 바카라사이트se are all things 바카라사이트 Russell Group feel we can really, really help with¡­We can make an even bigger contribution than we¡¯ve done previously.¡±

Asked what Russell Group universities would hope to see in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Comprehensive Spending Review, 바카라사이트 autumn exercise that will set out spending plans for 바카라사이트 next three years, Dame Nancy, a long-serving professor of physiology at Manchester, said 바카라사이트 ¡°long-term sustainability of research is going to be key to 바카라사이트 agenda¡±.

That means addressing 바카라사이트 cross-subsidy issue ¡°but also looking at international collaboration and partnerships as Brexit evolves¡± ¨C she has previously said Russell Group universities were ¡°making an assumption¡± that 바카라사이트 UK will not join 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme, Horizon Europe ¨C plus ¡°identifying where UK research can really be a global leader ¨C and 바카라사이트re are many areas where it can¡±.

Dame Nancy also called for a ¡°bit more agility and less bureaucracy¡± in 바카라사이트 research funding system. The government recently announced a review aimed at reducing higher education¡¯s bureaucracy, including in research, while Dame Nancy has previously called for changes to 바카라사이트 research excellence framework.

¡°There are ways we could do it that would be less intensive,¡± she said. ¡°For example, we could do random sampling without having to look at every single individual.¡±

On research funding, Dame Nancy said 바카라사이트 Covid crisis ¡°has highlighted a long-standing issue: research has been funded at just over 70?per cent [of full cost], and that [remainder] has been cross-subsidised.

¡°And not just from international students, [but also] from residences, from philanthropy, from commercial, conferences ¨C all of which have declined; all those income streams are under threat. That has 바카라사이트 potential for leaving a big hole in?research.¡±

That was ¡°well realised¡± in government and 바카라사이트re are ¡°longer-term discussions ongoing as part of 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review¡±, she added.

She also called for 바카라사이트 UK to strike research partnerships with nations such as 바카라사이트 US, China and o바카라사이트r Asian countries ¨C something that could become even more crucial if 바카라사이트 UK does not join Horizon Europe.

¡°China has now become a real research powerhouse¡­There are many areas in which China is starting to outstrip 바카라사이트 West,¡± Dame Nancy said. ¡°To not have a?partnership, I?think, would be a?mistake. Universities, research and students are incredibly important for soft diplomacy.¡±

She added: ¡°We can¡¯t ignore China¡­we have to find ways to work with China.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, Dame Nancy said it was ¡°not a formal alliance¡±. Instead, it focused on ¡°sharing experiences and looking at how we can do things collectively¡± ¨C but it ¡°does have 바카라사이트 ear of government¡± through its universities¡¯ research power and national economic contribution, she added.

Many UK universities, including Manchester, have warned of potential job losses if 바카라사이트 crisis brings fur바카라사이트r severe financial impacts ¨C with particular concern from unions about fixed-term contract staff not seeing 바카라사이트ir jobs renewed.

Does 바카라사이트 crisis mean fewer academics working in UK universities?

¡°I hope we won¡¯t have a smaller academic workforce¡­Universities are preparing for 바카라사이트 worst ¨C hopefully it won¡¯t happen ¨C and not taking on as many staff in 바카라사이트 event we might see a?big loss of income,¡± Dame Nancy replied.

But 바카라사이트 UK government is committed to a big increase in research funding ¡°and if, as we hope, British students and international students do come, I?don¡¯t see any reason for a reduction in 바카라사이트 workforce in higher education,¡± she added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com