From the 1st April demand management measures will be introduced for applications submitted to the following NERC responsive mode schemes: Urgency, Large and Standard grants (including those led by new investigators). The RCUK efficiency of Peer Review Project report published in February 2006,…
Changes to AHRC’s Policy on Resubmissions and Grade Descriptors
The AHRC have announced today that following advice from peer review panels they will be amending the grade descriptors used by reviewers and panels in assessing applications for AHRC funding. The scale will continue as a 1 (low) to 6…
ESRC Demand Management: Consultation Favours Researcher Sanctions
Demand management has been a frequent topic on this blog and in many discussions at the University since the publication of the Research Council’s Delivery Plans at the beginning of the year. In April I drew your attention to the…
Research Council Success Rates: A Balancing Act
This week Research Fortnight published an interesting story on UK Research Council success rates [login required]. The picture is diverse: from a low of 16% for the ESRC to the giddy heights of 39% for the AHRC. We’ve discussed previously…
AHRC Demand Management
A few weeks ago I attended an ARMA/AHRC Study tour at Polaris House, the main home of the UK Research Councils, in Swindon. Unlike the usual ARMA Study tours, which are intended primarily as an opportunity for research support staff from universities…
ESRC Demand Management
In line with all Research Councils the ESRC is considering measures to manage the increasing volume of applications it receives. Research Councils currently receive considerably more high quality applications than they are able to support. The ESRC alone has seen a…