05.10.07
1994 Group response to the publication of the Sainsbury Review of the Government's Science and Innovation Policies
As the group of universities proud of their achievements in pushing forward the boundaries of global science and innovation, the 1994 Group welcomes the publication this morning of Lord Sainsbury's review of the Government's science and innovation policies.
Professor Steve Smith, Chair of the 1994 Group and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter said:
'This extremely important report highlights the tremendous achievement of the Higher Education sector in the delivery of world class knowledge transfer activities. There is, as the report identifies, however, more to do to ensure that we can sustain and build upon this recognised excellence. As a Group, we particularly welcome the recommendation that the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) be enhanced, be made permanent and be refocused towards recognition of institutional excellence in engagement with business rather driven by institutional size.'
In addition, the 1994 Group welcomes the recommendations designed to encourage more students to study STEM subjects within our universities.
'We applaud Lord Sainsbury's strong recommendation to reform the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey to ensure that it provides accurate and useful information to all applicants,' said Professor Smith. 'In addition to the National Student Survey, the provision of this information is essential if applicants are to make informed choices about their choice of course and institution.'
Notes for Editors
The 1994 Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in research and teaching. The 1994 Group represents nineteen of the most research-intensive universities in the UK.
The Group's members are small- to medium-sized institutions, and are generally campus-based.
They operate on a human and personal scale, maximising student-staff contact and ensuring an adaptable and inter-disciplinary approach to both research and teaching. Research-led teaching is key to the 1994 Group's mission, and a large majority of the top academics who achieved the Group's outstanding results in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise teach students.
The 1994 Group in partnership with the NUS will hold a conference in central London on 28 November to mark the launch of the Group's policy statement 'Enhancing the Student Experience.' The national one day conference will set out what the undergraduate 'student consumers' of today and tomorrow are expecting from learning and teaching, support, and prospects on graduation. Delegates will be given the opportunity to consider how to define the student experience at their institution, and how to capitalise on the student experience to help secure the future of the university.
For further details about the conference and for information on registering, please refer to the NSA website.
Member universities are: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of London, Durham University, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of Warwick and University of York.
Press Enquiries: Stuart Franklin, Head of Press and PR, University of Exeter, 01392 263146; Paul M. Marshall, Executive Director, 1994 Group, 0207 1642095