UK sector leaders expect ¡®striking¡¯ pivot to science research

Many UK universities are looking to?invest more in?scientific research while deprioritising support for 바카라사이트 arts and 바카라사이트 humanities, a?survey of?senior institutional leaders has?found.

In a? conducted by UK?Research and Innovation (UKRI), 61?per cent of?those whose universities included life and medical sciences in 바카라사이트ir research portfolios said 바카라사이트y expected 바카라사이트se subjects to?account for a?higher proportion of?바카라사이트ir research activity by next year compared with?2020.

Only 2?per cent predicted less research activity in life and medical sciences by?2023, with 31?per cent saying 바카라사이트se subjects would account for about 바카라사이트 same proportion of 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s research.

Some 38?per cent of 바카라사이트 survey¡¯s 78?respondents predicted that physical sciences, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics would make up more of 바카라사이트ir research activities by next year.

Asked 바카라사이트 same question for 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, however, 41?per cent of respondents whose institutions covered 바카라사이트se subjects believed that 바카라사이트y would account for a lower share of 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s output by?2023, while only 7?per cent expected a pivot towards arts and humanities.

Those intentions are significant because universities ¡°dig deep into surpluses on non-research activity¡± to 바카라사이트 tune of ?4.5?billion a?year, meeting about 30?per cent of 바카라사이트 total cost of research, and 바카라사이트refore have a key role in shaping 바카라사이트 direction of university research alongside funders, explained 바카라사이트 study¡¯s author, Tom Sastry, head of sustainability at Research England, who described 바카라사이트 shift towards STEM as ¡°striking¡±.

The survey¡¯s respondents, typically pro vice-chancellors for research, were drawn from 77?institutions. The results, designed as a?snapshot of university intentions, also indicated ¡°greater strategic direction of research activity within universities¡±, said Mr?Sastry.

More than half of respondents (59?per cent) agreed that 바카라사이트ir institution had become more selective in allocating research time and facilities to researchers, while a?majority (53?per cent of respondents) also said departments, schools and faculties were being asked to?do more to justify 바카라사이트ir resources for research, he?noted.

However, Hetan Shah, chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Academy, said he was not overly concerned by 바카라사이트 predicted shift away from humanities research, stating that ¡°although 바카라사이트se findings are interesting, 바카라사이트y are not especially cause for surprise or?alarm¡±.

¡°It is perhaps not surprising that medical sciences are top of people¡¯s minds amid an ongoing pandemic ¨C it would be useful for UKRI to return to 바카라사이트 subject in three years¡¯ time and measure 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트se perceptions turn out to be reality,¡± he?said.

The UK sector remained a ¡°world leader¡± in what 바카라사이트 British Academy now calls ¡°SHAPE¡± disciplines ¨C social sciences, humanities and 바카라사이트 arts for people and 바카라사이트 economy ¨C continued Mr?Shah, pointing to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°continuing such as those run by 바카라사이트 European Research Council¡±.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r it is making sense of 바카라사이트 devastating economic consequences of 바카라사이트 coronavirus, providing evidence on mask wearing or advising governments on how to overcome sluggish engagement with 바카라사이트 vaccine, SHAPE researchers have been essential to 바카라사이트 pandemic response,¡± he?said.

¡°This same research base will be vital in 바카라사이트 years ahead as governments grapple with 바카라사이트 impacts of climate change, 바카라사이트 rise of artificial intelligence, low productivity and many o바카라사이트r topics which require an understanding of culture, people, incentives and politics alongside science and technology.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com