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HUMANE: Barcelona 2006

HUMANE: Barcelona 2006. Present UK Trends in Research Policy and Management Jonathan Nicholls Registrar and Secretary University of Birmingham. UK International Impact in Science. UK is punching well above its weight - second only to the United States on most of the measures

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HUMANE: Barcelona 2006

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  1. HUMANE: Barcelona 2006 Present UK Trends in Research Policy and Management Jonathan Nicholls Registrar and Secretary University of Birmingham

  2. UK International Impact in Science • UK is punching well above its weight - second only to the United States on most of the measures • UK gives excellent value for money from its research budget - we are number one in the G8 on efficiency measures. • For more detail see: David A King, “The Scientific Impact of Nations”, Nature 430, pp. 311 -316 (http://www.dti.gov.uk/science/science-funding/budget/uk_research_base/page29207.html)

  3. Impact of UK Research Relative to World Average

  4. Distribution of Citation Impact for Total UK Research 1995-2004source: HEPI [www.hepi.ac.uk]

  5. 2006 Shanghai Jiao Tong World League Table

  6. Trends in Gross Domestic Expenditure on R and D

  7. Gross Expenditure on R and D by Sector 2003

  8. UK Science Budget

  9. HEI research income Expenditureby Funding Councils and other funders 3000 2500 2000 £ million 1500 1000 500 0 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 FCs Total project funders

  10. Trends in UK Research Policy • The Future of the Research Assessment Exercise • Full Economic Costing of Research • Serving National Economic and Social Priorities • Serving the Needs of Industry • The Regional Agenda • Exploitation of Intellectual Property • How is Management Evolving to Face these Challenges?

  11. UK Universities’ Sources of Research Income 2004/05Source: HESA [www.hesa.ac.uk]

  12. Advantages of RAE in UK • Has provided a benchmark of quality accepted across the HE sector • Major influence in improving quality and output • Provides a lexicon for basing quality decisions between universities • Provides data to assist universities in internal decision-making • Is independent in its judgements from government and interest groups in the sector • Has assisted in promoting the idea of a diverse sector (except for the English “genius” of creating a hierarchy out of a difference!) • Has provided a largely reliable method of concentrating £1bn a year selectively in departments and universities where there is demonstrable excellence

  13. Change in research active staff

  14. Disadvantages of RAE in UK • Has become bureaucratic and beset by gamesmanship that distorts the process and outcomes • Causes unnatural cyclical behaviour in writing papers, hiring staff which is sometimes inimical to long-term planning • Induces non-linear behaviour in universities • Has distracted from the core business of teaching and education (particularly at a time of new fees) • It deters certain forms of research because of (mis?)-conceptions about their value in the peer-review process • The business of selectivity has now taken place – there is little significant movement in the top twenty universities after each exercise

  15. The Debate about RAE Reform • Has the RAE served its purpose – if so, what will replace it and when? • Can the distribution of funding (currently >£1bn per year) be based on metrics? • Would such an approach disadvantage the Arts and Social Sciences?

  16. Full Economic Costing [FEC]:The Government’s Vision • To move to a sustainable, world class research base over the next few years • Quality is high • But finances not sustainable • Government expects HEIs to recover FEC for research “taking one year with another” • Knowing the Full Economic Cost • Pricing for sustainability • Adequate re-investment

  17. What is Full Economic Costing in the UK? • Directly Incurred Costs • Research Assistants • Technicians • Equipment, consumables etc. • Directly Allocated Costs • Principal and Co-Investigators (estimate of time) • Estates costs (£ per FTE) • Specialist facilities, pooled support staff (usage) • Indirect Costs (£ per FTE)

  18. Who will pay the Full Economic Cost? • fEC only determines COST not PRICE • From September 2005, all Research Council applications must be based on fEC. • Research Councils’ price will be 80 % of the fEC • Charities unlikely to meet full cost • Prices to other sponsors to be fEC or more • We will need to make choices about what we do if we are to be sustainable

  19. Pricing Strategies

  20. Serving National Economic and Social Needs • Powerful thrust of policy that university research must be focused on national priorities since 1980s but gathering force again • Already changes in medical research to reflect this. • Possible that the amount of state funding for each subject will be altered in consequence • Greater prominence given to so-called applied research or the application of research • May have serious consequences for subject balance in universities

  21. Serving the Needs of Industry • In its response to the review of the RAE, the employers’ federation (CBI) has pressed hard for greater prominence to be given to indicators directly related to work that is valuable to industry • Government believes that industry should have a greater say on what is funded and what work universities undertake • This has problems, particularly in the SME sector and in balancing short-term focus with longer-term research with no immediate benefit • How well does industry serve the needs of universties?

  22. Regional Development Agency Budgets

  23. What do the RDAs Do? • To further economic development and regeneration • To promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness • To promote employment • To enhance development and application of skill relevant to employment • To contribute to sustainable development

  24. Extension of the Role of RDAs • Each has a body often called an Innovation and Technology Council. • A view is forming that RDAs should have more control over public research funding in the UK to ensure it is meeting regional priorities

  25. Exploitation of IP • Improved performance in recent years • Stimulated by government policy and by the provision of new funding to launch projects, appoint specialist staff, etc. • Key feature of Government policy in terms of serving the needs of the economy and society • Increasingly valuable to universities but not to be over-stated

  26. Total Revenue and Costs of IP Activities in UK HE (real terms)

  27. IP Income by Source in UK HE (real terms)

  28. Number of Disclosures made by UK Universities

  29. Number of FTE Staff engage in Business and Community Activity in UK Universities

  30. Income from Collaborative Research in UK Universities

  31. The Management Challenge • Research is a business and has developed commercial characteristics • Different specialists now needed to support research: • Networkers (internally and externally) • Financial experts (FEC) • Commercial experts (Pricing research and selling it) • Contract specialists (protecting interests/compliance) • Business developers (sources of funds/new partners) • IP exploiters (straddling the university and industry) • Research park managers • Partnership brokers (managing strategic partnerships) • Lobbyists (making the case with government/agencies)

  32. The Management Response • Find structural solutions that integrate the specialists and integrate them where research is conducted and funded • Establish a one-stop shop or portal for potential funders and partners and for your own staff • Recruit or develop staff with the new skills required to succeed • Improve governance arrangements to set boundaries not to impede • Learn to manage entrepreneurs (The New Cowboy - Google Video)

  33. Thank You for Listening Any Questions? Jonathan Nicholls University of Birmingham

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