Universities should consider how research benefits the economy and society says million+

University think tank million+ has defended proposals to give more funding to research that has benefits to the economy and society, following calls by a group of academics that they should be scrapped. Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of million+ said: “There is no prejudice to the future funding of world-leading research in the proposals to include an impact measure to assess the excellence of research in the UK’s universities. Universities and academics should not forget that this is public funding provided by the taxpayer. The Government is absolutely right to ask the Higher Education Funding Council to include a measure to assess the impact upon society and the economy of research that has been subject to public funding in the past.

“This will be only one component in the factors that will be used to assess the excellence and future funding of research. Universities and academics do have a responsibility to consider how their research has brought benefit to society and the economy. If anything, this could help justify to the public the scale of public resources which are devoted to funding research in universities and help ensure that world-leading research continues to be funded wherever it is identified in universities in the future.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. For more information, comment or interviews please contact Victoria Mills on 0207 7171655 or 07900 277819