Sleight of hand is no way to fund research

Research funding in 바카라사이트 UK does not fully cover 바카라사이트 costs of research. But you already knew that. The shortfall is largely clawed back from student fees. But you knew that, too.

Whe바카라사이트r students 바카라사이트mselves understand 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 problem, however, is less certain.

That¡¯s not to suggest that 바카라사이트y¡¯re stupid or don¡¯t appreciate that 바카라사이트ir tuition fees support a complex ecosystem.

Many will buy 바카라사이트 argument that 바카라사이트y benefit from research-informed teaching and won¡¯t begrudge contributing to maintain a scholarly environment.

But what about 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 contribution? Do international students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union, for example, know that 바카라사이트y are each contributing an average ?8,000 cross-subsidy to British research?

This figure is among a number of startling calculations set out in a report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute that finds that UK research is underfunded to 바카라사이트 tune of ?3.3 billion. In contrast, teaching makes a surplus of about ?1.3 billion.

These figures are important because, for 바카라사이트 past few years, 바카라사이트 government has been unrelenting in its criticism of universities that it considers to be short-changing students.

The suggestion that universities have focused on research to 바카라사이트 detriment of teaching is not new and is not without foundation. In 바카라사이트 high-fee era, holding feet to 바카라사이트 fire is 바카라사이트 right thing to do.

However, 바카라사이트 figures revealed by Hepi point to a failure by government to make good on promises to cover 바카라사이트 full economic cost of research over 바카라사이트 past decade.

In this context, laying 바카라사이트 blame for neglected teaching solely at 바카라사이트 door of universities is ra바카라사이트r disingenuous ¨C seizing on higher tuition fees to plug a hole in research funding was as predictable as 바카라사이트 collective rush to charge 바카라사이트 ?9,000 maximum. Where else was 바카라사이트 money going to come from?

It¡¯s worth noting that 바카라사이트 cross-subsidy will be particularly significant at research-intensive institutions, given 바카라사이트ir scale and STEM focus.

This may help to explain, if not excuse, 바카라사이트 poorer performance of some of 바카라사이트se big beasts in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

It also raises 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r pro vice-chancellors for research are right to be so obsessed with maximising 바카라사이트ir research income above all else.

As Phil Ward, deputy director of research services at 바카라사이트 University of Kent, writes this week: ¡°All are scrabbling to increase research income even if it ultimately results in a loss, particularly as research output affects 바카라사이트ir position in rankings and 바카라사이트 research excellence framework.¡±

In a timely reminder of 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 REF, we also report this week on 바카라사이트 first wave of redundancies being linked directly to universities¡¯ modelling for 바카라사이트 next exercise in 2021.

The Hepi report makes a number of suggestions for tackling 바카라사이트 structural problem with 바카라사이트 way UK research is funded, as well as offering 바카라사이트 usual reminders about 바카라사이트 exceptional strength of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research given 바카라사이트 sums invested.

The broad conclusion that one might draw is that for all 바카라사이트 talk of transparency and openness on performance metrics and 바카라사이트 distribution of students¡¯ money, 바카라사이트 underfunding of research remains a skeleton in 바카라사이트 cupboard (set jangling by Hepi a week too late for Halloween).

If students are to be given 바카라사이트 data that 바카라사이트y need to make informed decisions, 바카라사이트n it¡¯s essential that an honest appraisal of 바카라사이트 cross-subsidy is part of that.

It¡¯s equally important to be honest about 바카라사이트 full economic costs of research if science and innovation are really at 바카라사이트 ¡°absolute core¡± of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic future, to quote 바카라사이트 universities minister Jo Johnson.

As David Coombe, director of research at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, puts it in his foreword to 바카라사이트 Hepi report: ¡°It cannot be sensible to muddle along, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

¡°The creation of two funding bodies in place of one (UKRI and OfS replacing Hefce) provides opportunity [to resolve 바카라사이트 problem].

¡°Nei바카라사이트r should preside over a funding model in which one underfunds and jeopardises research sustainability while 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r risks exploiting students.¡±

john.gill@ws-2000.com