Concentration and diversity: understanding the relationship between excellence, concentration and critical mass in UK research

Selectivity not concentration has driven excellence

A policy of selectivity–funding research based on quality – has driven up the quality of UK research since the introduction of the RAE, not concentration. Selectivity has resulted in concentration of research funding where quality exists. This is fully supported by University Alliance.

The UK has one of the most highly selective research funding methods in the world – QR funding in 2009-10, based on RAE 2008, has not changed that:

Selectivity can, however, be taken too far. HEFCE’s ‘Fundamental Review of Research Policy and Funding’ concluded that “a major increase in selectivity could reduce the number of research-led institutions to a level that would be inconsistent with the general health of the UK research base, in terms of both its economic and its social contribution…leading to complacency and ossification.”

Excellence is not determined by volume alone

There is no direct correlation between volume and excellence outside some of the physical sciences. The relationship between volume and excellence varies by discipline. Three broad categories were identified by experts at the University of Leeds for the HEFCE Fundamental Review of Research Policy and Funding:

In the small number of science-based disciplines where there is a correlation between volume and quality:

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