Research funding

Published on 28/10/2012 21:10

The response to the call by the Russell Group of universities for research funding to be concentrated in the hands of its members was predictable, if disappointing (your report, 25 October).

Student leaders and lecturing unions in Scotland have warned that further concentration of research funding will result in a two-tier system. Some might argue that this is something we already have. The recently Times Higher Education table of world universities threw up few surprises as wealthy American institutions and Oxford and Cambridge secured most of the top positions. Edinburgh, up four places to 32nd, was the only Scottish institution in the world’s top 100. 

We live in harsh financial times and it will be difficult for even the wealthier universities to fend off competition from overseas. The “spread the jam evenly” philosophy of some is clearly not the choice of our competitors as China, South Korea and Germany, among others, are all choosing to invest huge sums in their leading universities. A wonderful legacy of a nationalist government would be a university capable of attracting the best students from all around the world, providing them with top-class facilities and the best teaching and research. A Scottish Harvard, perhaps. Are you listening, Mike Russell?

Keddie Law

Lunan Avenue

Montrose