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Edition 64 Newsletter now online.

The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) has been established to develop research facilities across the UK, encourage collaboration and support excellent research.

HEFCE has published a report that presents projected rates of qualification for students on postgraduate research degrees. The data show that around two-thirds of the 10,140 students who started research degrees in English higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2009-10 are projected to qualify within seven years, and around three-quarters will qualify over a longer period.

UKCGE written response to HEC review available to view online.

HEFCE announces allocations of £5.3 billion in funding to universities and colleges in England for 2012-13.

The announcement in today’s Budget that the government will set up a new £100 million fund to support investment in major new university research facilities is ‘good news’, according to Universities UK

The Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) articulates the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers and encourages them to aspire to excellence through achieving higher levels of development.

A survey and interviews, with both researchers and researcher developers, were used to explore how researchers use their social capital to elicit careers advice, who they ask, how they rate their networking skills and their career aspirations, attitudes and constraints.

HEFCE has published a consultation report that sets out the lessons learned from collaborations, alliances and mergers (CAM) in higher education, and proposes guidance for universities and colleges that may be contemplating such arrangements for the future.

The higher education sector is facing a period of significant change over the next few years, as new arrangements for teaching funding are introduced. However, it does so from a position of financial strength, according to the HEFCE, which has today published a review of sector finances.

New reports released from the Higher Education Policy Institute.

Fear that fee increases could wipe out demand for many postgraduate courses is prompting the government and universities to find out about postgraduates' backgrounds - The Guardian

We are seeking your comments and thoughts in preparing our submission.

New research probes doctoral researchers' career thinking.

UKCGE is now posting news updates, event information and council activities on the Facebook page.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) has announced doctoral stipend levels and indicative fees for 2012. In recent years, increases to the Research Councils UK minimum doctoral stipend have been based on the GDP deflator and this remains the start-point for determining minimum stipend levels.

A joint publication with JISC and UCL.

This report is based on joint work by IPPR North and Universities UK to understand better the impact of recent changes to regional and local structures and the emerging relations between universities and regions.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) today announces its funding decisions for higher education in England following the annual grant letter from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and subsequent decisions by the HEFCE Board. This announcement covers HEFCE funding for the academic year 2012-13.

The final criteria and working methods that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) panels will use when assessing research are published.

The British economy faces major challenges. Postgraduates have a vital role to play in ensuring continuing UK economic competitiveness, providing the thinking and technical skills that are essential for tackling major business challenges. Yet postgraduate issues suffers from a lack of profile - most parliamentary debate and media coverage is focused exclusively on undergradates.

What makes the best learning environment for research students? How can universities help researchers achieve their personal and professional potential?

A group of UK funders of research fellowships and other stakeholders announce agreement of a number of principles to support researchers who move between the UK research base and other nations around the world.

The HEA has launched its vision for the next four years, emphasising its role as the national voice for learning and teaching enhancement in higher education.

How digitally literate are researchers and researcher development professionals? How is digital technology being used for research and to develop researchers? In order to answer some of these interesting questions, and to ensure that higher education institutions and their members are fully supported in becoming digitally literate, please take five minutes to share this invitation with friends or colleagues and participate in this short questionnaire.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) has published the RCUK Impact Report 2011 which complements the impact reports prepared by the individual Research Councils for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

As part of Universities Week 2012 (30 April – 7 May), Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Universities UK (UUK) are seeking submissions for a ‘Research, Development and the Olympics impact report’. The report will focus on the research and developments made by universities that have contributed to the Olympics.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the Government’s new Innovation and Research Strategy. The strategy sets out the Government’s approach to boosting investment in innovation and enabling UK success in the global economy.

Universities UK published a report highlighting the critical role universities will play in reviving economic growth across the country.

This study, commissioned by RIN and the British Library, comprising of a set of case studies looking at how researchers access, use and disseminate information in collaborations between higher education and business, public and third sector partners.

ARMA’s Professional Development Framework, developed in consultation with its members and related bodies and organisations, scopes out the knowledge, skills, behaviours and activities required across the full range of research management and administration roles.

The Research Councils UK (RCUK) Research Outcomes System (ROS) has been launched. It is a web based system through which researchers and research organisations can supply information about the outcomes of their research to Research Councils.

Report on the first UKCGE member led workshop held on 2nd June 2011.

This new report from RIN looks at the role of research supervisors in information literacy.

This is a call to register your institution’s interest in participating in the national Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2012 by 5 December 2011.

Outcomes from Institutional audit 2007-09: External involvement in quality management.

Efficiency and effectiveness are key priorities for the UK higher education sector, but universities must continue to demonstrate good value for money in the new funding environment. These are the findings of a new report published by Universities UK.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcome the establishment of a new independent working group to examine access to research findings.

The UK doctorate: A guide for current and prospective doctoral candidates.

A reference point publication.

Commenting on the publication of the Government’s consultation on higher education regulation.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a technical consultation on a new regulatory framework for higher education.

Rising costs may herald a decline in uptake of higher degrees by home students. John Morgan reports for the Times Higher Education.

HEFCE, Research Councils UK (RCUK), and Universities UK (UUK) issue a joint statement on impact.

Details of the UKCGE submission now available.

The wealth of life-changing research currently taking place in universities across the UK is revealed today in a new report published to mark Universities Week.

UK Universities add at least £1.31 billion a year in value to UK society in the form of health and well being, citizenship and political engagement, according to new research by leading independent think-tank the new economics foundation (nef), published in association with Universities UK.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have announced plans to work together to ensure greater open access to published research.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the new Intellectual Asset Management for Universities guide launched by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the findings of the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth.

Following feedback from the sector, Vitae has revisited the Database of Practice to make it more user friendly for those wishing to contribute case studies and for those searching for examples of good practice. It is faster, more searchable and current.

Leading think-tank million+ has called for Government commitment to avoid focusing research funding into just a handful of universities, cutting off money for modern universities which produce world-leading research.

Vitae has published new major publications.

Universities UK publishes the findings of a review into the external examining system for UK higher education.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) has published its new delivery plan.

The RIN has completed a second series of case studies to provide a detailed analysis of how humanities’ researchers discover, use, create and manage their information resources.

An archive of older news stories published on this website.