This is a message for Social Policy Association members but will interest
all UK academics subject to the RAE. I am writing as SPA Executive
Committee member responsible for research policy and funding matters,
though opinions expressed below are strictly my own and not necessarily
those of the EC.
HEFCE has issued a letter to learned societies etc dated 29 September
headed as above. The subtitle is 'first call for evidence'. What HEFCE
plans is a 'fundamental review of research policy and funding', meaning 'a
fundamental review of the RAE to consider its continuing fitness for
purpose'. It continues: 'This wide-ranging review is evidence based and a
variety of methods are being employed to engage fully with institutions,
learned societies, subject associations, industry and other users, and
other stakeholders. We are now issuing a call for evidence to interested
parties'. A form for responses plus information on the review is available
at <www.hefce.ac.uk> under 'research', or you can get hard copy from
HEFCE.
So far, so good. Many of us in organisations or as individuals would like
to consider this question in depth and radically, and send reasoned and
evidenced responses on the future of RAE.
However, the deadline for responses to reach HEFCE is FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER
1999. Yes, 12 November this year. That is six weeks from now in which to
consult, discuss, collect evidence and draft responses. Can it be done?
In addition to preparing for this very important matter which affects
virtually all of UK HE, you might want to offer your opinions on the
realism of the time scale and request an extension to those who could
extend it if serious attempts to collect and marshal evidence are to be
given time. For learned societies whose executive committees meet only
every few months, a date around February or March 2000 might be more
realistic -- perhaps you have other views to express.
The SPA EC will be writing to HEFCE about the time scale for the response,
and this is, therefore, an invitation to SPA members to submit evidence
to me when they have read the HEFCE invitation and remit, so that we can
get a reasoned response together before it is too late.
Whether SPA or not, you may also like to forward this message to other
relevant learned societies etc and mailbases you know of [which I can't
do, not having all their addresses] -- after all, the review is of the
whole of the RAE, not just the social sciences. Please snowball and
network, and let's help HEFCE with its review properly. The last thing we
want is for HEFCE to say that it invited evidence for its radical review
of RAE about which we all feel so strongly, but it didn't get it in time.
John Veit Wilson.
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>From Professor J. H. Veit-Wilson
Department of Social Policy
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE1 7RU, England.
Telephones: +44-191-222-7498 or +44-191-266-2428
Fax: +44-191-222-7497.
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>.
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