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![Page 1: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008
Government funding for Research:
what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll
Middlesex University
June 2006
![Page 2: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
• Background
• Models of Universities
• The current distribution model
• Getting the formula right
• Concentration
• Conclusions
![Page 3: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Background
Science and innovation investment framework
2004 – 2014: Next Steps
“The Government’s firm presumption is that after the 2008 RAE the system for assessing research quality
and allocating QR will be mainly metrics based”
![Page 4: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
A report into the social and economic impact of publicly funded research in 35 participating
universities. Arthur D Little May 2006
“the research base of institutions of the type broadly represented by the participating universities
represents an important, distinct and valuable component of the wider UK research base,”
![Page 5: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
PUs use a modest publicly funded base to attract substantial additional contract research from a diverse range of customers
PUs
Russell Group
1994 Group
Funding Council
Investment (£)Multipliers
57,135,924
794,647,255
195.205.139
3.03
1.77
1.18
![Page 6: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
“PUs are outstandingly successful in attracting research contracts from government agencies and public bodies, helping to inform a wide swathe of public policy.”
“PUs have strong research relationships with multinational and national industries as well as SMEs and emerging industries”
“PUs play a major role in delivering the regional regeneration and economic development agendas.”
“PUs are highly effective in attracting EU funding to the UK.”
![Page 7: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
What is public funding of research in universities for?
• to deepen and widen the research base
• to support high risk research
• to support research with high public benefits
• to support the development of know-how of value to the public and private sectors
• to support excellent teaching and learning
![Page 8: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
What should it not be for?
• maintaining the general funding of, and established elite of, institutions
• promoting the standing of institutions in league tables
• providing hidden subsidies
• research which should be funded by users
![Page 9: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Models of Universities (1)
• Teaching and research are separate activities carried-out by different people – teachers teach, researchers research
• Teaching only universities providing services to business
• History is banned
• Research only universities?
• Sector diversity is described by the mix of teaching, research and knowledge transfer
A The Charles Clark model
![Page 10: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Models of Universities (2)
• Teaching and research are integral activities carried out by the same people – teacher/researcher
• Teaching, research, innovation and knowledge transfer are mutually supporting
• Sector diversity is described by subject coverage and student profile
B The universal model
![Page 11: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
The current distribution model (1)
Dual funding: Grant and Project
What is grant (RAE) funding for?
• well-founded research environment
• stable element of research funding
• high-risk research
• strategic investment
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The current distribution model (2)
Characteristics
• distribution determined by complex peer-review system
• allocations fixed for long periods
• outcomes can be set aside by political intervention
• highly competitive process with non-competitive outcomes
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What is wrong with the RAE?
• high cost
• obstructs planning
• does not support inter-disciplinary research
• excellent user-focussed research not rewarded
• discourages collaboration
• drives a wedge between teaching and research
• discourages high-risk research
• drives up the costs of research (transfer market)
• encourages over-trading
![Page 14: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Will a formula based model be better?
Yes, if it:
• uses publicly available data
• is continuous (annual)
• avoids excess volatility (moderation)
• removes all distinctions between different types of research
• gives high weight to teaching volume
![Page 15: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
The benefits of basing grant funding on teaching volume
• All HEIs receive a research funding based on student population
• Avoids patterns of funding being ossified
• Reduces resistance to high risk research
• Achieves a better distribution of funding
![Page 16: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Concentration (1)
Drivers for Concentration
• Treasury policy
• RAE (with added political intervention)
• Full economic cost
![Page 17: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Concentration (2)
Effects
• less research at higher cost
• but better quality?
• narrows research base
• reduces research opportunities for academic staff
• threatens “British Higher Education” brand
• undermines knowledge transfer and ‘employer engagement’
• widens inequality in the student experience
![Page 18: Research Funding and Assessment: Beyond 2008 Government funding for Research: what is it for and how should it be distributed? Michael Driscoll Middlesex.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082805/5515dd6655034638038b4a76/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Conclusions
• The global challenge cannot be met by a handful of universities.
• The potential of the whole university sector needs to be harnessed