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Bournemouth University Biomedical engineering research at Bournemouth University, in conjunction with Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, over many years has developed intelligent Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) systems – a method of externally controlling muscles – which are improving the quality of life for people with neurological disabilities across the globe. Signals from the brain are crucial to control how we move our bodies. But count…

Research Fortnight has run a piece on the grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England – the letter confirms that quality-related (QR) funding will be maintained in 2015-16 but has sparked speculation about whether the funding will end up being further concentrated in a smaller number of elite institutions. Our response to this issue appeared in the story. The University Alliance group of business-focused universities also wel…

The annual HEFCE Grant Letter sidled out of BIS without much fanfare last Friday. We are not sure why it came out so quietly when there is so much to welcome in it: recognition that a successful university sector is vital to the economic prospects of the UK; excellent world-leading research should be funded wherever it is found; support for student opportunity funding; and a drive to improve our understanding of its impact and recognition of the …

In response to the publication of analysis of full-time undergraduate applications by UCAS, Maddalaine Ansell, Chief Executive of University Alliance, said: “It is encouraging to see that young people continue to recognise that a degree is still the best route to career success – and particularly good to see an increase in applications from young people living in disadvantaged areas. “The UK economy is a knowledge economy with most new jobs in hi…

Research 2.0 Can UK science and innovation flourish in the next decade? Thursday 12 March, 17.30-19.00 The Royal Institution, Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BS Drinks reception with short speeches and science fair Research improves the way we live, work and interact. Our research and innovation ecosystem is evolving. How do we ensure it is the envy of our global competitors, and continues to transform our world? Please join us as we showcase exce…

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t find the idea of university inspirational. Cambridge, the home of my nearest university in the days before the 1992 Education Act, was the shining, celestial, continuing city. And I wanted to go there. It promised excitement and opportunity. It never occurred to me that because I was, in the jargon, from a non-traditional background, it might not be possible. So I applied, was offered a place and it has chang…

… Chief Executive Maddalaine Ansell was featured in a story in the Guardian Higher Education Network blog about proposed cuts to the European research budget which could risk British universities losing their position as world-leading institutions. She had called the proposals a ‘backwards step’ for UK and European researchers. You can read her full statement on this issue here. …

Houses of Parliament at night (Image credit: UK Parliament www.parliament.uk) A subject very close to our hearts was trending in London on Twitter on Wednesday night. Anyone whose curiosity had been stirred by the steady climb of #casedebate15 to the top five spot on the social media site and clicked onto its timeline may have been surprised by the passion and blow-by-blow details of “who-said-what” and each thrust and counter-thrust by those in …

University Alliance is disappointed that the EC proposes to divert money from the research and innovation budget to the newly created European Fund for Strategic Investments. Maddalaine Ansell, Chief Executive of University Alliance, said: “UK universities get up to 20 percent of their external research income from the EU. So a hit to the Horizon 2020 budget will have a significant negative impact on our research base. “Investment in science and …

Our report on research excellence was highlighted in a quote from John Vinney, vice chancellor of Bournemouth University – which is one of our members. Prof Vinney was sharing what he wants political parties to include in their 2015 election manifestos in the Guardian Higher Education Network Blog. “I’d like the government to fund excellence in research wherever it is found, rather than concentrating on a limited number of universities. There is …