Plug for brain drain?

Abstract

The recent spending review by the UK government has announced the allocation of ∼£370 million over the next three years to universities for the recruitment and retention of top class academics. In consultation with academic institutions, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will distribute teaching and research grants on receipt of clear strategies that target issues such as staff recruitment, retention, development and commitment. Because the content of strategies is left to the discretion of each institution, it is anticipated that proposals will include the use of funds to increase staff pay, and with it the possibility of bridging the UK–US academic salary gap. The allocation of funds will be based on the current level of HEFCE funding to each university; the top five beneficiaries are listed in Box 1. The current HEFCE guidelines, details of which can be found on the HEFCE website (http://www.hefce.ac.uk), invite institutions to put forward their own objectives and targets by the June 2001 deadline. DC. Tabled 1 Higher Education instituions Allocation (£) I 2001–2004 Open University 12 663 000 University College Londo 9956 000 University of Oxford 9922 000 University of Cambridge 9774 000 Imperial College London 8643 000 Open table in a new tab Tabled 1 Higher Education instituions Allocation (£) I 2001–2004 Open University 12 663 000 University College Londo 9956 000 University of Oxford 9922 000 University of Cambridge 9774 000 Imperial College London 8643 000 Open table in a new tab