In response to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) report ‘Funding selectivity, concentration and excellence – how good is the UK’s research?’ Libby Aston, Director of University Alliance said:
“We strongly welcome further evidence that the distribution of highly cited research is spread across the sector and the conclusion that an explicit policy of concentration cannot be justified. These support the findings of our recent publication (1). 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. “HEPI’s findings are borne out by the recent HEFCE grant announcements which safeguarded the funding for research across Alliance universities based on a steeper level of financial selectivity for the best research.”
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Notes for Editors
(1) For further evidence see University Alliance, Concentration and diversity understanding the relationship between excellence, concentration and critical mass in UK research, available to download here.
The HEPI (Higher Education Policy Institute) report is available from their website at www.hepi.ac.uk.
University Alliance represents 22 major, dynamic, business-like universities at the heart of the sector that deliver world-leading research with impact and are actively business-focussed. Alliance universities educate 26% of all UK students and achieve some of the highest graduate-level employment rates. These universities offer a research informed, academic learning environment and a culture of entrepreneurialism, equipping graduates for the 21st century.
Alliance universities
Aberystwyth University, Bournemouth University, University of Bradford, De Montfort University, University of Glamorgan, University of Gloucestershire, University of Hertfordshire, University of Huddersfield, University of Lincoln, Liverpool John Moores University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University,Nottingham Trent University, Open University, Oxford Brookes University, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, University of Salford, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, University of Wales, Newport, University of the West of England.
For further information, please contact:
Alexandra Harris, University Alliance on 0203 178 7491,
or email press@www.unialliance.ac.uk
