Research reforms
We already knew from UKRI’s recently-published five-year strategy that reform of the QR research funding formula is expected by 2030. The reform will “encourage universities, as autonomous institutions, to specialise and collaborate in ways that build the critical R&I capabilities the nation needs”, linking changes to the UK Government’s push for greater university specialisation and collaboration, set out in last year’s post-16 education and skills white paper as part of its growth agenda. More recently, Research Professional set out (£) a picture of sectoral caution about potential unintended consequences, not least around the impact on curiosity-driven research. They also quote several sector leaders arguing against closer linking of research funding with government policy objectives.
Meanwhile, in a separate announcement as part of an address to the UUK conference (£), new science minister Chris McDonald said he wants funders such as UKRI to make “fewer, longer awards”, meaning “fewer speculative applications chasing the same pot and more effort managing investments once made”. The moves would, he argued, lead to a “smoother and simpler system”. On their side of the coin, meanwhile, UKRI are examining a suite of measures to speed up its awarding of grants, including exploring the use of artificial intelligence to assist assessment.
Other news in brief
- Scottish university finances under the microscope: A joint report by the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland estimates that universities north of the border face a £200 million funding gap that threatens their ability to sustain research. In particular, it identified the increasing dependence of Scotland’s 18 universities on fee-paying international students to cross-subsidise the tuition of Scottish undergraduates. On a related note, an interesting WonkHE article under the provocative title “The Treasury is bankrupting three nations’ universities” examined why, with funding reviews underway in all three devolved nations, none will examine the hidden accounting rules driving the crisis.
- Levy under review: The Department for Education in England is “considering the merits” of extending exemptions from the international student levy to groups of students beyond those studying outside the UK. In response to a written parliamentary question, it was confirmed that the UK Government would place transnational education delivered outside the UK would be beyond the scope of the levy, and that “the department is considering the merits of exempting any additional groups of international students and will update on this in due course”.
- Ministerial boundaries: In less encouraging news, science minister Chris McDonald landed himself in difficulty by indicating he hadn’t understood that his brief extended to arts, humanities and social sciences (£) which he thought fell within the purview of DCMS.