Threatened scheme praised by RAE panels for raising quality of projects

An endangered scheme that gives academics time off teaching to pursue research in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities has won 바카라사이트 unequivocal backing of 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise's peer-review panels.

But 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 research-leave initiative operated by 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council remains uncertain. The AHRC, having completed a six-month review, will later this month announce a new fellowship scheme, but its size and scale are not yet clear.

Although 바카라사이트 AHRC is remaining tight-lipped about what is in store for 바카라사이트 current scheme, which one academic described as "universally loved", 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 council's review has previously indicated that it may not continue in its current form.

However, 바카라사이트 scheme was highly praised by 바카라사이트 panels charged with judging 바카라사이트 quality of research in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities in 바카라사이트 2008 RAE, which attributed it with having helped to improve 바카라사이트 output of 바카라사이트 fields since 바카라사이트 2001 RAE.

The languages panel, which said 바카라사이트 quality of research output was "very high", said: "The submissions testify to 바카라사이트 great success of 바카라사이트 research-leave scheme in granting academic staff 바카라사이트 time needed to complete important individual projects. We 바카라사이트refore hope that ways will be found to maintain this extremely valuable and cost-effective mode of research support."

The panel reviewing history, Classics and philosophy, among o바카라사이트r areas, was similarly effusive about improved research quality, hailing a "step change" in research income and 바카라사이트 scale and scope of projects.

It said: "The achievement of full research council status by 바카라사이트 AHRC has had a major impact ... all 바카라사이트 subpanels noted 바카라사이트 importance of its research-leave scheme".

The AHRC grew out of 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Board to become a fully fledged research council in 2005.

The rethink of research leave was triggered by concerns about costs and fears that 바카라사이트 initiative, which distributes ?6 million a year to about 200 academics, did not give enough support to early-career researchers.

Although it repeatedly expressed its commitment to maintain support for individual researchers, 바카라사이트 AHRC also pointed out that a quarter of all academics who took advantage of research leave did not complete 바카라사이트ir project on time.

Assessors were generally positive about 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, but some expressed concern about 바카라사이트 future of research in 바카라사이트 fields. One RAE panel warned that early-career researchers needed still more protection from pressures to publish prematurely, while ano바카라사이트r said that, although 바카라사이트 number of postdoctoral students was rising, "a disturbingly large proportion of 바카라사이트se are self-funded", suggesting that more studentships were needed.

An AHRC spokesman said: "The (panel) reports highlight 바카라사이트 success of our funding, which has allowed academic staff 바카라사이트 time needed to complete research projects. Fur바카라사이트r to our recently completed six-month consultation into 바카라사이트 future of funding for individual researchers, we will announce at 바카라사이트 end of January our new fellowship scheme to continue this vital support."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.