Policy portal

Below are links to various policy initiatives in Higher Education in the UK and Europe that have affected the higher education research landscape and human resources practices and policies (with particular reference to contract researchers). The initiatives fall within four main areas:

Research careers

SET for Success-Final Report of Sir Gareth Roberts' Review (2002)
The report concludes that concluded that the UK did not have an adequate supply of people with science, technology and mathematics skills. Chapter 5 of the report sets out a series of recommendations for the recruitment, retention and development of skilled scientists and engineers within HE. 

Research Careers Initiative (RCI) (1997-2002)
In 1996 representatives of institutions and the principal funders of research in the UK agreed a concordat concerning the management of staff appointed on fixed term contracts to carry out research in UK universities and colleges. The Research Careers Initiative (RCI) was subsequently set up under the chairmanship of Professor Sir Gareth Roberts FRS, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, now President of Wolfson College, Oxford. The RCI monitors progress towards meeting the commitments of the Concordat and identifies and encourages good practice in the career management and development of contract research staff.

Leitch Review of Skills (2006)
This is an independent review of the UK's long term skills needs. The Review sets out a compelling vision for the UK. It shows that the UK must urgently raise achievements at all levels of skills and recommends that it commit to becoming a world leader in skills by 2020, benchmarked against the upper quartile of the OECD. This means doubling attainment at most levels of skill. Responsibility for achieving ambitions must be shared between Government, employers and individuals.

Revised concordat and code of practice for career management of research staff in the HE sector, Research Councils UK (2007)
Update of the 1996 Concordat, which takes into account new legislation affecting staff on fixed term contracts, amendments to UK Research Councils harmonised grant terms and conditions and the publication of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Researchers: What is the situation? Annual Report to the UK Research base Funders' Forum 2007
The UK Research Base Funders' Forum, considered the first annual report on researchers in April 2006. This second report highlights issues that have arisen since the 2006 report, updates the bibliography, details progress against the 2006 recommendations and makes two new recommendations emphasising the continuation of joint working between RCUK, the Higher Education Funding Councils and other funders.

Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)

Review of Research Assessment, Sir Gareth Roberts (2003)
The recommendations based on which the RAE was reviewed.

Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014-next steps (2006)In the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014 (published in 2004), the Government expressed an interest in using metrics collected as part of the 2008 RAE to provide a benchmark on the value of metrics as compared to peer review, with a view to making more use of metrics in assessment and reducing the administrative burden of peer review. The 10-Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework: Next Steps published with the 2006 Budget moved these plans forward by proposing a consultation on moving to a metrics-based research assessment system after the 2008 RAE (Reform of Higher Education Assessment and Funding).

Business-University collaboration/Knowledge Transfer

Lambert Review of Business-University Collaboration (2003)
The objectives of the review, conducted on behalf of the Treasury, were to highlight opportunities for business-university collaboration; identify successful business-university collaborations that could serve as role models; and offer ideas to stimulate debate and shape policy. Read Cass Business School's response

Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014 (2004)
The framework sets out the Government's ambition for UK science and innovation over the next decade, in particular their contribution to economic growth and public services, and the attributes and funding arrangements of a research system capable of delivering this. In it, the Government gives its initial response to the Lambert review.

Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)
The Higher Education Innovation Fund is a funding programme designed to encourage knowledge transfer in Universities and other Higher Education institutions in England. It is the core mechanism for supporting Knowledge Transfer within the English Higher Education Sector.

Lambert agreements (2004)
These are model collaborative research agreements for voluntary use by industry and universities based on Lambert's reccommendations and concerning the ownership and exploitation of IP including, for example, ownership of IP by the university with exclusive or non-exclusive licensing to the business.

Warry Report: Increasing the economic impact of Research Councils (2006)
This is the report of the Research Council Economic Impact Group, chaired by Peter Warry, to the Director General of Science and innovation at the DTI. It has four recommendations directed at the research councils providing stronger leadership, being more influential, engaging more with stakeholders and being able to demonstrate the impact of their investments in both research and researcher training.

With respect to researchers the report recommends that the Research Councils should:

European Union research

Lisbon strategy
The underlying aim of the Lisbon Strategy is to make the EU "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010".

European Research Area
The European Reseacrh Area represents Europe's efforts to strengthen European research potential and competitive edge. The ERA is working to coordinate national research policies in the direction of shared objectives, expertise and resources, and increase the Europena Union's global expenditure on research to 3% of GDP - or one and a half times the current level - by 2010. The objective of this substantial increase is to bridge the gap with the United States and Japan.

European Charter for Researchers (2005)
The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles and requirements which specify the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of funders and/or employers of researchers.