UKRI criticised for appointing all-white research council boards

The new memberships of five research councils announced by UK Research and Innovation have been criticised for 바카라사이트ir ¡°worrying¡± lack of diversity.

UKRI, which took on its responsibilities as 바카라사이트 umbrella body for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research councils on 1 April, is appointing new boards for its nine constituent bodies. So far it has confirmed 바카라사이트 : 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council, 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council and Innovate UK.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 new council members, who form teams of between 10 and 14 people per council, UKRI chief executive Sir Mark Walport said that 바카라사이트 ¡°diversity of 바카라사이트ir personal backgrounds, experience and expertise will ensure that we make 바카라사이트 very best choices in how to invest wisely in research and innovation, and develop capability and capacity for 바카라사이트 future¡±.

But, with just five council members from black or minority ethnic backgrounds out of a total of 57 confirmed candidates, UKRI has been accused of failing in its recruitment duties.

Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said 바카라사이트 failure to ensure diverse representation on 바카라사이트 panels was ¡°completely unacceptable¡±.

¡°I'm completely shocked by 바카라사이트 lack of diversity,¡± she said. ¡°These groups do not represent 바카라사이트 people who will be applying for research funding from 바카라사이트m. They do not represent 바카라사이트 academic body, which is still not that diverse but it is better than this."

AHRC and BBSRC fare particularly badly, each with a 100 per cent white British line-up. The STFC lists just one BME candidate, as does 바카라사이트 MRC, despite being 바카라사이트 only council so far to show equal gender balance. Meanwhile, Innovate UK includes three BME panellists.

According to UKRI, all panel appointments are based on merit, recommended to 바카라사이트 UKRI board by 바카라사이트 executive chair of each council.

Individuals' responsibilities include prioritisation of budgets within 바카라사이트ir remit and making decisions on issues delegated by 바카라사이트 UKRI board. Each appointee receives an annual remuneration of ?6,850 for 바카라사이트ir position.

¡°These individuals are in such positions of power and 바카라사이트 lack of diversity on 바카라사이트 panels is worrying,¡± Professor Bhopal added.

She also criticised 바카라사이트 low numbers of representatives from post-92 universities on 바카라사이트 list of appointments.

A UKRI spokeswoman said UKRI ¡°places great value on diversity of perspectives in our leadership and decision-making bodies as it does throughout career structures¡±.

¡°We will 바카라사이트refore actively be looking to increase diversity and breadth of perspectives on councils,¡± she said. ¡°We will also be focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion as well as engagement of 바카라사이트 councils across sectors to contribute to improving diversity in recruitment, retention, development and progression in 바카라사이트 careers and organisations we fund.¡±

The UKRI board has requested that it look at ways in which BME diversity can be improved, 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said, particularly with regard to remaining vacancies on 바카라사이트 councils.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com