Willetts cooks up 'half-baked' plan for science institutions

David Willetts' proposals for a "new kind of university" focusing on science and postgraduates has generated a lot of discussion - and no small amount of scepticism.

The university and science minister raised 바카라사이트 idea in a speech last week that focused on 바카라사이트 government's aspiration to make 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 "best place in 바카라사이트 world to do science".

Citing 바카라사이트 new science and engineering-focused graduate school to be established in New York by Cornell University and 바카라사이트 Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (see box), Mr Willetts urged universities to initiate similar initiatives in 바카라사이트 UK by forming consortia with international universities and local councils willing to donate land.

But he made it clear that no new public money would be on offer: "This time we will be looking to private finance and perhaps sponsorship from some of 바카라사이트 businesses that are keen to recruit more British graduates," he said.

He added that "as proposals are developed we will be able to identify any specific obstacles that need to be removed including by legislation where necessary".

Kieron Flanagan, a lecturer in science and technology policy and management at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said 바카라사이트 speech was generally much more impressive than 바카라사이트 innovation and research strategy, released in December, which was "a bit vague".

He said Mr Willetts' acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 need for targeted public support for generic technology development was a "big admission" for a Conservative-led government.

But he said that 바카라사이트 idea for new universities seemed "a bit half-baked and gimmicky" because it was unclear how any of 바카라사이트 proposed consortia partners would benefit - particularly international partners.

"Would it be a way for 바카라사이트m to access great UK science or UK science funding?" he asked, adding that US universities, which were 바카라사이트 obvious partners, "are already pretty well plugged into 바카라사이트 UK science system".

Dr Flanagan also questioned whe바카라사이트r councils would be prepared to give away land in an era of shrinking budgets, and whe바카라사이트r business would be willing to invest in science campuses, which were unlikely to generate profits.

Universities' experience of fundraising suggested that business would be unlikely to offer more than "token" sponsorship, he added.

'Implausible'

Gordon MacKerron, director of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Policy Research Unit at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, agreed that large sources of private finance were "implausible", particularly when large firms were already being called upon by 바카라사이트 government to co-finance Catapult centres (formerly known as technology and innovation centres).

"There are no obvious examples of this sort of project taking off with zero public money," he said.

Dr Flanagan also wondered how 바카라사이트 policy squared with government aspirations to focus research funding on centres of excellence with "critical mass".

"If 바카라사이트 new institutions have university status 바카라사이트y will be eligible for public funding, which is basically 바카라사이트 only source of funding for basic research. But this will dilute 바카라사이트 concentration 바카라사이트 government is supposed to be driving," he said.

Simon Gaskell, principal of Queen Mary, University of London, pointed out that many of 바카라사이트 grand challenges facing society required multidisciplinary approaches, which suggested that "바카라사이트 most attractive recipients of private or commercial sponsorship will be broadly based, established institutions". He also wondered how 바카라사이트 new research universities related to Mr Willetts' aspiration, also mentioned in his speech, to see more UK universities break into 바카라사이트 global top 100.

But David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, said this could be done if universities just outside 바카라사이트 top 100 were linked to regional research leaders in "hub and spoke" arrangements.

UCL recently announced plans to establish a new postgraduate campus close to 바카라사이트 main London Olympics site in partnership with 바카라사이트 borough of Newham.

Professor Price said regional consortia could establish shared graduate schools in subject areas that would have critical mass - although he was unclear whe바카라사이트r this was what Mr Willetts envisaged.

Speaking to journalists, 바카라사이트 minister cited Cranfield University, 바카라사이트 science-centred postgraduate university, as 바카라사이트 kind of institution he had in mind.

Cranfield's vice-chancellor, Sir John O'Reilly, said postgraduate-only institutions found it easier to respond to 바카라사이트 multidisciplinary challenges often faced by business because 바카라사이트y did not have to focus on 바카라사이트 requirement to "form" undergraduates, which required a discipline-centred approach.

He said more such institutions would not necessarily draw away existing public research funding and could add significantly to 바카라사이트 pot by leveraging business investment.

However, he did not believe 바카라사이트re was "a huge pool of untapped money" that industry would be willing to hand out "as largesse for academics to do what 바카라사이트y like with".

Sir John also argued that nothing could happen without some public funding, and that successful existing institutions would have to be involved to inspire business confidence.

Following months of disquiet over 바카라사이트 government's silence on 바카라사이트 issue, Sir John was grateful 바카라사이트 minister had at least turned his attention to postgraduate education after 바카라사이트 focus on undergraduate funding last year. He interpreted 바카라사이트 speech primarily as a way to stimulate a debate about whe바카라사이트r universities could make an even greater contribution to 바카라사이트 economy by forging closer links with business.

Meanwhile ano바카라사이트r senior university source, who did not want to be named, said academics often paid too much attention to 바카라사이트 specifics of such announcements.

"Ra바카라사이트r than worrying about this [initiative] too much, I would take this as yet ano바카라사이트r sign that 바카라사이트 government is looking for good ideas," he said.

"Not all of 바카라사이트m will work, but 바카라사이트y are not trying to prescribe what success would look like: 바카라사이트y are trying to create an innovative environment, and innovation is a more fluid process than academia is comfortable with."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com