Future of Research Plenary Presentation

JISC Research Conference19th October 2010

Plenary Address

Professor Paul Curran Vice-Chancellor

City University London

Traditional academic paradox

• Academic culture is collegial and inherently collaborative

• Academics compete for resources, prestige and position

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A collaborative culture was formalised in University funding arrangements

• University Grants Committee Proposition 7 (1948): ‘Public money should not be used to compete against itself’

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From 1980s an increasinly competitive culture was formalised in university funding arrangements

• 1985: University Grants Committee concluded that research quality is a basis for differential funding and competition

• 1992: Research funding linked to Research Assessment Exercise outcomes and research competition increased

• 1990s: Increased competition for postgraduates, international students and enterprise activity

• 2006: Fees, but not high enough to create teaching competition

• 2012: High fees and teaching competition to increase

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Universities are increasingly competitive

• However, academics ignore institutional boundaries and continue to:

• Appoint external advisors on senior appointment committees and Departmental Reviews

• Share sensitive data (e.g., salaries)

• Research and teach together &

• Interaction between senior staff (e.g., VCs) is routine

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The most competitive universities are often the most collaborative

• Universities must collaborate in some areas to compete:

• International student exchange• Joint Masters and Doctoral programmes• Joint publication and bids for funding by academic staff• Networks of like-minded institutions

• Illustrate using networks in general and WC2 network in particular

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National and international networks

• Informal networks

• National networks (Russell Group, University Alliance, 94 Group, Million+)

• Large international networks (Universitas 21, WUN, Pacific Rim)

• Small international networks (mainly technology-based)

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International collaboration

• Research and mainly graduate education (Erasmus Mundus etc.)

• UK: 1% of the world’s population; 5% of the world’s scientific research; 14% of the world’s most highly cited papers

• UK’s major partners in papers are the US (30%), Germany (14%), France (11%) and Japan, Australia, Canada, China, India (less than 7% each)

• About half of the postgraduate students in the UK come from abroad

• Inward Erasmus student flow to the UK is 2.3 times greater than outward student flow

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City University London

• Never a member of a national or international network

• Distinctive due to (i) commitment to academic excellence; (ii) focus on ‘Business and the Professions’; (iii) London location - special link with the City of London (Lord Mayor and Worshipful Companies)

• Different culture from many institutions: very cosmopolitan, professional and collegial

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World Cities, World Class (WC2) University Network

• Up to 15 Universities located in world cities

• World cities: over 5M citizens; financial and cultural centres (~50% of world’s population lives in world cities with ~ 70% expected by 2030)

• Member Universities have to be world class in at least some of their discipline areas

• Focus on five thematic areas: Transport, Business, Global Health, Cultural Industries and Sustainability

• Smaller groups work together since Universities choose two or three themes

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Politechnico di Milano

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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St Petersburg State Polytechnic University

Seoul National University

Technical University of Berlin

Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico City

University of Sao Paulo

Founding members of WC2 network

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World Cities, World Class (WC2) University Network Launch

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World Cities, World Class (WC2) University Network

• No fees (universities select level of investment)

• Meetings every six months in rotating venues

• Doctoral students as WC2 scholars (exchange scholars)

• Top down approach with Presidents/Vice-Presidents driving the network

• React quickly to international (e.g., EU) and national government proposals

• Improve global rankings through increased grant winning and publications

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Three parallel sessions to explore ‘collaboration in a competitive environment’

• Session 1: Research beyond institutional boundaries, Chair: Professor Rob Macredie, Brunel University

• Session 2: The ‘open road to competitiveness’, Chair: Matthew

Dovey, JISC • Session 3: Collaboration: growing benefit or necessary evil?, Chair:

Jonathan Adams, Research Evaluation

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