1/ Think BBC is biased? UK academic research funding (UKRI) is far more so.
% of UK's £9b research funding going to left scholar activism has exploded.
Findings from my NEW @HeterodoxCentre @UniOfBuckingham report based on big data analysis of @UKRI_News research grants
% of UK's £9b research funding going to left scholar activism has exploded.
Findings from my NEW @HeterodoxCentre @UniOfBuckingham report based on big data analysis of @UKRI_News research grants
2/ On UKRI's web pages, mentions of 'equality' trump 'excellence', and the balance has been growing ever more skewed
3/ Social justice terminology has been soaring in UKRI awards as millions in grant research is diverted toward cultural left 'Social Justice' research
4/ Worse, the REF 2029 audit, which governs prestige rankings & doles out £2 billion to universities, will massively boost the importance of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in the sector.
Why? Because excellence = 'epistemic injustice'! (h/t @ProfAliceS @timeshighered)
Why? Because excellence = 'epistemic injustice'! (h/t @ProfAliceS @timeshighered)
5/ University REF scores are shaped by cultural left kitemarking organisations @AdvanceHE & Athena SWAN. Universities compete for the highest 'gold' award from them. The joint UKRI/Advance HE report is heavy on gender and race, with no real interest in class
6/ UK trends echo those in the US and Canada
(h/t reports on NSF from @lokitekone & Canada Tri-Councils from Dave Snow at U. Guelph)
(h/t reports on NSF from @lokitekone & Canada Tri-Councils from Dave Snow at U. Guelph)
7/ At heart is a philosophical difference about what taxpayers should fund: cultural socialism (identity group equality within the elite) or cultural flourishing (research excellence)
UKRI is acting like people want cultural socialism.
They don't.
UKRI is acting like people want cultural socialism.
They don't.
8/ I estimate £20 million is going to scholar activist research @ESRC & @ahrcpress each year. Far more including other councils & UKRI EDI spending.
Can the UK afford this? Should Tory & Reform voters fund their opponents' ideology?
Examples h/t @CharlotteCGill @WokeWaste
Can the UK afford this? Should Tory & Reform voters fund their opponents' ideology?
Examples h/t @CharlotteCGill @WokeWaste
9/ Recommendations:
UKRI's budget be reduced by its EDI spend
EDI should be stripped out of the REF 2029 Environment score
Publication metrics, the least ideological measure of research excellence, should play a major role in REF 2029
UKRI must pivot from EDI to excellence
UKRI's budget be reduced by its EDI spend
EDI should be stripped out of the REF 2029 Environment score
Publication metrics, the least ideological measure of research excellence, should play a major role in REF 2029
UKRI must pivot from EDI to excellence
10/ If UKRI thinks it can just do business as usual and ignore the right, it could face a nasty surprise if Reform is elected. Falling conservative trust could bring an axe down on research funding - a shame as much of it adds intellectually & economically to Britain
12/ Some key links mentioned. Check them out:
DEI in US NSF grants: cspicenter.com/p/increasing-p…
EDI in Canada tri-council grants: macdonaldlaurier.ca/promoting-exce…
Examples of scholar activism in the UK: substack.com/@CharlotteCGill
Pushback from sane UK academics: timeshighereducation.com/opinion/refs-p…
DEI in US NSF grants: cspicenter.com/p/increasing-p…
EDI in Canada tri-council grants: macdonaldlaurier.ca/promoting-exce…
Examples of scholar activism in the UK: substack.com/@CharlotteCGill
Pushback from sane UK academics: timeshighereducation.com/opinion/refs-p…
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