John Morgan

Starmer in Labour conference speech the latest in a long line of politicians to "scrap" the Blair target for 50% of young people to enter higher education. When was the last time it actually applied in any real sense in public policy?

Fee levy would push 14 more universities into deficit, MPs told - Research Professional News Sector slams international student fee proposal as education department promises further details in autumn budget

Yet more warnings to govt on its plan for a levy on universities' international student fees.

Levy would push further 14 universities into deficit, including three Russell Group members, MPs on education committee told.

By @sophieatrpn.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Royal Society to reconsider expelling Elon Musk - Research Professional News Violent rhetoric in address to anti-immigration rally pushes science academy to reassess billionaire’s fellowship

Royal Society's governing council will meet on 1 October to consider expelling Elon Musk.

Adrian Smith, its president, taking a new stance in light of Musk address to far-right rally in London last week.

@francesjones.bsky.social with the latest.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

‘Historic research collaboration’ promised in US-UK tech deal - Research Professional News Pact covering AI, quantum and nuclear technology announced as Donald Trump arrives on state visit

UK-US tech deal includes "historic research collaboration" on AI. @chrisjparr.bsky.social with the details.

Unfortunate that when it comes to "Britain’s booming AI sector" as Liz Kendall describes it, 2 out of 3 companies mentioned now foreign owned

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Ian Chapman: ‘I join UKRI at a crucial and exciting time’ - Research Professional News Funder’s role is amplifying and accelerating the impact of UK researchers, says new chief executive

And here's Ian Chapman's opinion piece for @resprofnews.bsky.social, setting out stall for leading UKRI - including on responsibility not just for curiosity-driven research, but research "required to address govt priorities", notably economic growth

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

UK research ‘trying to do too many things’, warns new UKRI leader - Research Professional News Ian Chapman wants funding emphasis on world-leading areas, but experts warn of system “inertia”

Nice to have Ian Chapman, UKRI's new chief exec, writing exclusively for @resprofnews.bsky.social.

Here's analysis of his comments on UK research "trying to do too many things", calling for focus on world-leading areas, by @robinbisson.bsky.social.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Peter Kyle’s exit ‘will not change defence pivot at Turing’ - Research Professional News Chair of national AI institute addresses staff after government reshuffle raises questions over minister-led reforms

Peter Kyle’s exit as science secretary not going to halt plans for the Alan Turing Institute to refocus on defence, the institute’s chair has told an all-staff meeting.

@francesjones.bsky.social with inside track again on Turing developments.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ - Research Professional News Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”

Comments from UUK president that seem like a harbinger of things to come.

Govt doesn't want funding going to "areas of research where we don’t have the quality".

Unis can't afford "hobbyist research", Malcolm Press tells @harrietswain.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

That moving of skills to DWP might firm up plan for a levy on universities' international student income - govt has said the levy will fund "higher education and skills" or just "skills".

If skills going to different dept, under heavyweight minister, adds to sense it will be given bigger budget.

Liz Kendall to replace Peter Kyle as science secretary in reshuffle - Research Professional News Kyle goes to business while skills brief taken out of Department for Education, reports suggest

Liz Kendall to replace Peter Kyle as science secretary.

Skills moved from DfE to Department of Work and Pensions, under its new secretary Pat McFadden.

By @robinbisson.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Big changes afoot after REF pause

Explicit from Research England that the pause is to “ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education”

Changes may include RE rewarding collaboration and specialisation - exactly direction of HE reforms expected in white paper

'RPN understands that one option on the table is for smaller institutions to get core funding without having to submit a REF return, to guard against the cost of submitting a return outweighing the funding they receive.' 1/3

REF team exploring ‘two-track’ approach to research assessment - Research Professional News Research England says approach could offer light-touch assessment for some universities

Another REF announcement out just now: Research England considering a two-track approach where less research-intensive universities get lighter touch.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Head of Turing institute to step down after political pressure - Research Professional News National AI institute looks for new chief executive to “step up its work on defence”

Alan Turing Institute chief executive to step down after science secretary's intervention - latest development in a very significant running story about the national data and AI institute, and the extent of govt power over publicly funded research.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Vallance announces three-month pause in REF - Research Professional News Science minister announces hiatus but says results still on track for 2029

Story on science minister Patrick Vallance just now announcing three-month pause in work on REF "to get it right". REF still going to be in 2029, he says.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Vallance announces three-month pause in REF at UUK conference.

'More than 20 disgruntled Labour backbenchers signed a letter sent to the Home Office and Department for Education, suggesting there is significant worry in Labour ranks about the implications of a levy for R&D funding levels.'

University crisis is forcing the REF to lower its expectations - Research Professional News When dauntingly complex plans meet cash-strapped institutions, something’s got to give, says Anna Grey

Eloquent guide to the abundant changes planned for next REF, potential implications and why this is all causing such ructions, by @annamgrey.bsky.social.

I gather we may hear updates in response to the ructions very soon...

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

What illiberal democracy means for science - Research Professional News The Trump administration’s hostile approach to universities and funding agencies will be copied elsewhere

Wrote about what illiberal democracy means for science. Even the most non-party political science relies on institutions that are being politicised, intensely.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Keir Starmer scraps flagship mission unit as part of latest reset The prime minister has removed the group central to Labour’s ‘vision for government’, which included boosting economic growth, in his latest reset

If Labour's five missions are now sort of ditched - three main priorities instead, no more mission delivery unit - what does that mean for the R&D Missions Programme and the five mission directors UKRI was hiring?
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

I'm sorry, I've been writing at REF again. I tried really hard not to be cynical and write something quite factual. I think I managed that, but yes, agree with Glen, something has to give.

University crisis is forcing the REF to lower its expectations - Research Professional News When dauntingly complex plans meet cash-strapped institutions, something’s got to give, says Anna Grey

This is a really astute analysis. Read it if you have access.

You might think the fee levy plan would be another example of Home Office pushing for a policy on international students against DfE opposition - as often seen under Tories. But fact Jacqui Smith keeps going out to bat for levy suggests DfE fully on board.

Labour MPs pressure ministers on fee levy ‘damage to science’ - Research Professional News Jacqui Smith meets backbenchers concerned that proposal would harm research at universities in their constituencies

Labour MPs write to Home Office and DfE warning against plan for levy on universities' international student income, in letter seen by @resprofnews.bsky.social.

Skills minister Jacqui Smith set to meet them today, @chrisjparr.bsky.social reports.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

US research agency upheaval costs UK universities millions - Research Professional News Exclusive: Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed

Health research at Russell Group universities losing millions in Trump's science policy turmoil.

Projects losing combined £8m mainly from NIH cutting grants for collaborations with foreign researchers, FoI by @francesjones.bsky.social reveals.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Research culture element of REF 2029 set to be shrunk - Research Professional News New ‘4-star plus’ research rating also being considered by Research Excellence Framework team, briefings suggest

A lot of REF news here from @chrisjparr.bsky.social:

* People, Culture and Environment weighting to be scaled back
* PCE to move closer to 2021 environment statements
* REF team considering creating a new ‘4-star plus’ rating

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Research culture element of REF 2029 set to be shrunk - Research Professional News New ‘4-star plus’ research rating also being considered by Research Excellence Framework team, briefings suggest

Important REF 2029 news: new people, culture and environment element set to have its weighting reduced, @resprofnews.bsky.social @chrisjparr.bsky.social learn.

Sector leaders had raised concerns about what they saw as delays/lack of clarity on PCE.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Nearly half of UK universities on Bluesky not posting - Research Professional News Despite migration from Musk’s X, universities take “watch-and-wait” approach on academics’ favoured platform

Nearly half of UK universities with Bluesky accounts aren't posting, despite migration from X.

@sophieatrpn.bsky.social reports on unis' "wait-and-see" approach to Bluesky (my guess: they don't see it as offering scope to market to students).

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

UKRI grant applications double in seven years as award rate halves - Research Professional News Trends across research councils prompt warning that system is “overstretched or broken”

The number of grant applications assessed by UK Research and Innovation has almost doubled over the past seven years, while the award rate has almost halved, new data show.

Trends prompt warning that system is "overstretched or broken".

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Most charitable interpretation of DfE PR on free speech act: attempt to fend off free speech criticisms of universities, to clear ground for injection of extra funding via higher fees in medium term.

The least charitable: pandering to the view of universities now wreaking havoc on US science.