The AHRB is currently conducting a review around the quality and impact
of, and support for, its French studies research. They are conducting
similar reviews in all of their subject areas, and as part of these
reviews they are seeking the views of the relevant learned societies and
subject associations. A panel of experts has been established to review
all of the research funded by the Board in French and our postgraduate
provision, and to consider a Heads of Department questionnaire sent to
UK French departments and modern language schools concerning AHRB
support for French studies.
I have been asked, in my capacity as AFLS president, to send in the
Association's comments, before the deadline of 4 February. They have
sent a set of questions that provide a broad outline of the issues they
would like the Association to cover in the submission, which I copy
below.
If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me by 1 Feb if at all
possible.
Many thanks,
Florence
Questions for discussion:
What are the opportunities for multi- trans- or interdisciplinary work
within the subject? To what extent has AHRB funding facilitated such
research?
What are the opportunities for international collaborative work within
the subject? To what extent has AHRB funding facilitated such research?
To what extent are ICTs (Information & Communication Technologies) used
within research or dissemination activities?
What are the perceived benefits of AHRB funding for the subject?
Has AHRB funding had an impact on research leadership and management?
Has AHRB funding had an impact on research careers?
Where are the main pockets of excellence within the subject, and upon
which funding bodies/streams do they rely?
Within the overall research funding framework, what is the quality of
work funded by the AHRB?
How important is AHRB funding provision to the advancement of research
within the subject?
What are the main issues facing the subject? (i.e. student populations,
research retention, capacity)
Does AHRB provision address any such issues?
What more should AHRB be seeking to achieve though its funding schemes
and mechanisms to support the subject and to enhance the quality of
research?
Are there any institutional barriers to the uptake of AHRB funding that
are likely to be specific to the subject? (e.g. one overarching issue
might be difficulties in releasing staff from teaching duties to focus
on research activity).
Florence Myles
Professor of French Linguistics
School of Modern Languages
Old Library Building
University of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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