Claims of 'dubious research' could deter vital academic investment

Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University and convener of Universities Scotland, said the accusation that some research is "dubious" risked undermining Scotland's worldwide regard for academic innovation.

Professor Muscatelli was responding to John Haldane, a professor of philosophy at St Andrews University, who, writing in yesterday's Scotsman, said the growth of research might have become "a drag" on the main pursuit of educating students.

As budgets tightened, said Mr Haldane, "hard choices" would have to be made on how universities spent their funding.

And he said money should instead be prioritised towards teaching students which he said is what universities had originally been set up to do.

However, last night Prof Muscatelli backed the process for commissioning research in Scotland and warned undermining it could see cash towards this crucial aspect of higher education cut.

He said: "Research funding is subject to oversight by the Scottish Funding Council, the UK Research Councils, periodic UK-wide research assessment, the requirements of commercial and charitable funders and, in some areas, specific and detailed regulatory requirements.

"To simplify and de-contextualise the outcomes of research is an easy game to play but if it is successful in deterring investment in a sector with proven excellence it will be to Scotland's detriment."

He described Scotland's legacy for discovery and innovation as internationally renowned and said that was being continued by ongoing "world-class" research.

He added: "It is dangerous to undermine the difference this research can make. Only recently, Scotland's universities have found a potential new treatment for cardiovascular disease, one of Scotland's biggest killers, and developed a completely safe way of killing 99.9 per cent of E.coli in water which will be of great value to the food manufacturing industry."

Universities in Scotland fears the current 2 per cent rise for higher education north of the Border will turn into a cut in the next budget. Universities in England reacted with fury last week at a proposed 5 per cent cut to their budgets, saying it would force them to shed thousands of jobs.

Research is a valuable financial source for universities, and with funding for teaching being static, applications to the various research funding bodies have been used as a key way for the institutions to gain additional cash.

Some universities gain almost half their funding from research.

For example, St Andrews gains about 18 million from the Scottish Funding Council for teaching and a similar amount again for research. Edinburgh receives 77.5m for teaching and 77.8m for research. Glasgow receives 83.5m for teaching and another 47.3m for research.

Newer universities, however, receive far less for research, Abertay in Dundee received 16.3m this year for teaching but just 1m for research.

Various research funds come from many sources – from the Westminster government to charities and private businesses.

Anthony Cohen, former principal of Queen Margaret University and honorary professor in Edinburgh University's School of Social and Political Science, warned against cutting research funding.

Writing in The Scotsman today, Prof Cohen said: "We may agree with Haldane that not all research is good or worthwhile, but that is hardly a justification for excluding research funding from universities or some universities from their entitlement to research-funding."

A university-funded organisation, Interface, was specially created to tap into the wealth of research in a bid to make money from private sources for the sector.

It matches businesses with researchers and departments at universities who can help boost a company's products, and profits, by making them more effective.

Interface director Dr Siobhan Jordan said research was crucial to Scotland's economy and to its competitiveness overseas. She said: "Investment in research and development is crucial to drive the business growth that will help Scottish companies to maintain a competitive edge in the face of global competition and ultimately strengthen Scotland's economy."

Business leaders agreed research was a key boost for many firms. Iain Ferguson of CBI Scotland said: "Scottish businesses are acutely aware of the value of university-led research and there are many examples of where business-university research collaboration has yielded commercial success."

Many researchers have flocked to the defence of the independence of academic investigation, saying it was important to retain because it informed good teaching.

However critics, including Dundee's former rector Craig Murray, who completed his tenure on Friday, have accused university bosses of prioritising money-seeking and away from teaching. He said: "The whole system is far too skewed towards the quest for finance."