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UEL calls for a fairer funding system for innovative research that makes a difference

Friday 23 January 2009

Leaders at the University of East London (UEL) have added their voices to calls for a fairer funding system for research following the outcome of the Government’s 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

UEL performed strongly in the RAE, with 78% of research across a wide range of disciplines rated at least ‘internationally recognised’, and a significant proportion rated ‘world-leading’.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is now working out a funding formula based on the RAE results, and is expected to announce grants in March. Despite reassurances that excellence will be supported wherever it is found, many universities are concerned that the way the funding is distributed will mean the lion's share of funding will continue to go to a few ‘elite’ institutions. Currently 75% of the 1.5bn a year research grant goes to just 19 universities.

Professor Susan Price, Acting Vice-Chancellor of UEL, said: “We and many other universities are concerned that our success in the RAE should be reflected in the funding we receive, and we are counting on the government to keep its promises to ensure an equitable distribution of funding.

“At UEL, research is central to our mission, not simply for the sake of developing new knowledge, but because it enables us to make significant contributions to social, cultural and economic development locally and globally. The RAE results highlight our strong performance and put us in an excellent position to further build our research base, but this will only happen with a more equitable funding formula."

UEL's research and knowledge exchange is focused particularly in applied areas such as social work and social policy, health and wellbeing, psychology, early childhood development, social work, international law and human rights, communication, media and culture, urban regeneration and environmental sustainability. .

UEL is a member of the Million+ think tank, which is continuing to urge the Government to ensure that funding is received in recognition of excellent and high quality research wherever it is found in the sector and that the results of RAE 2008 are taken into account.

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Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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