Education Funding – ESRC Perspective Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive ESRC, RCUK International Champion

ESRC in Context ▶Non-Departmental Public Body, established

in 1965, largely funded through the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)

▶The major public sector funder of social science research and post graduate training in the UK

▶Key Principles: – Quality– Impact– Independence

ESRC Funding▶Total budget for 2013/14

is £204m (BIS allocation of £181m)

▶CSR 2010: - 2% cut in real terms

to Programme budget- 23% cut in real terms

to Admin budget

Distribution of ESRC funding 2013/14

Funding Opportunities▶Schemes, competitions and initiatives to provide

grants for original research▶Centres and Large grants focused on key themes

affecting society and the economy▶Major capital resource for longitudinal and cross-

sectional studies▶Postgraduate funding▶Knowledge exchange opportunities - ESRC has

recently launched the Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs)

▶Seminars series

Development of Strategic Priorities▶Strategic Priorities– Economic Performance and Sustainable Growth– Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions– A Vibrant and Fair Society

To be reviewed regularly – ensure responsive to emerging questions in each area.

Refreshed February 2013▶ Assessed achievements to date and identified gaps to be filled▶ Considered how we respond to urgent but unpredictable

scientific opportunities

Capability Activities Lead Committee (plus support)

EvidenceData infrastructure (‘Big Data’) Building of supporting research

infrastructureMIC

‘What Works’ Centres Delivering evidence to inform policy CouncilMacro-economics Capacity building, data TSC (MIC)     Economic Performance and Sustainable Growth

   

Business innovation Research RCFinancial Markets Research, data, international RC (MIC)Cities Research, data, international, TSB RC (MIC)Social Science of Environmental Change

Research, international, capacity building, TSB

RC (MIC,TSC)

     Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions

   

Epigenetics and Educational Neuroscience

Research, data, capacity building, TSB

RC (MIC,TSC)

Innovation in Health and Social Care Research, international RCHigher Education (UK and developing areas)

Research RC

     Fair and Vibrant Society    Civil Society and Social Innovation Research, data, international,

capacity buildingRC (MIC)

Social Media Research, data and methods MIC (RC)The New Dynamics of Work Research RC     The Future of the UK in Europe Research, data, international Council

Capability Activities Lead Committee (plus support)

EvidenceData infrastructure (‘Big Data’) Building of supporting research

infrastructureMIC

‘What Works’ Centres Delivering evidence to inform policy CouncilMacro-economics Capacity building, data TSC (MIC)     Economic Performance and Sustainable Growth

   

Business innovation Research RCFinancial Markets Research, data, international RC (MIC)Cities Research, data, international, TSB RC (MIC)Social Science of Environmental Change

Research, international, capacity building, TSB

RC (MIC,TSC)

     Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions

   

Epigenetics and Educational Neuroscience

Research, data, capacity building, TSB

RC (MIC,TSC)

Innovation in Health and Social Care Research, international RCHigher Education (UK and developing areas)

Research RC

     Fair and Vibrant Society    Civil Society and Social Innovation Research, data, international,

capacity buildingRC (MIC)

Social Media Research, data and methods MIC (RC)The New Dynamics of Work Research RC     The Future of the UK in Europe Research, data, international Council

Partnerships and Collaboration▶A fundamental shift towards a collaborative

approach, with partnership and co-funding at the heart of all that we do: – We attract £23m of additional co-funding from government

departments, private sector, civil society and international bodies– Co-production ensures research is better placed to inform policy and

practice, increasing the likelihood of impact.– Private sector prioritised for increased engagement and co-funding

▶Increasingly viewed as partner of choice for government departments and other organisations– Longstanding partnership with DFID– Work with Cabinet Office to establish ‘What Works’ network

ESRC’s Development Research PortfolioTitle: Total Funding Co-funders: Start

date:

Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation £62.9M ESRC/DFID 2005

Growth Research Programme- DEGRP

£20.9M DFID/ESRC 2011

China and Africa research programme

£4.5M DFID/ESRC 2014

Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation- ESPA

£40.5M NERC/DFID/ESRC 2009

Population, reproductive health and economic development (POPOV)

£2.9M ESRC/Hewlett Foundation

2012

Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems -ZELS

£19.5M DFID/BBSRC/ESRC/MRC/NERC/DSTL

2013

Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor (UPGro)

£12M DFID/NERC/ESRC 2013

Health Systems Research £15M DFID/Wellcome/MRC/ESRC

2013

Education Systems Research £20M DFID/ESRC  2014

Examples of ESRC Funded Educational Research ▶Teaching and Learning Programme (TLRP) – ran from 1999-

2009 totalling £30m▶Science and Mathematics Education (TISME) – research funded

in partnership with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, The Institute of Physics and the Association of Science Education

▶Technology Enchanced Learning (TEL) is a ESRC/EPSRC funded programme which has just concluded – research ranging from early childhood development through schools further and higher education as well as professional and workplace learning

▶Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (ESRC Centre) investigates the role of lifelong learning in promoting economic competitiveness and social cohesion

ESRC Priorities related to Education▶Higher Education– Research into a dynamic and broad area – in the UK and

with international comparison– HE is an increasingly competitive and collaborative

international landscape with great potential for new research topics

▶Education and Development– Partnership with DFID to explore challenges and research

questions moving beyond access to education focus of Millennium Development Goals (MDG2) to focus on raising learning outcomes

Higher Education landscape – dynamic and worthy of New Research?▶Introduction of fees▶Increasing numbers of overseas students▶Debates around widening participation▶New technologies including MOOCs▶Potential for changing funding models▶Challenges for graduates in the labour

market▶Different country-specific models of

delivery

Higher Education as an Emerging Priority In development – overarching theme The

Future of HE; how higher education is organised and funded, and what it is for – its purpose and nature

Including a series of interlinked and overlapping potential research priorities – some clear relevance to international development

Planned activities under HE to be discussed at forthcoming ESRC Research Committee

The Developing Research ProgrammeFive potential themes which are under discussion and therefore may be subject to change –

▶Organisation of HEIs and the HE system▶Equity in higher education participation▶Curriculum, pedagogy and modes of provision▶Higher education for the public good▶The academic labour market

ESRC-DFID Strategic Research Partnership▶To ESRC, International Development represents

a complex set of global societal challenges that must be addressed through a broad range of cross-disciplinary social science research

▶DFID and ESRC co-fund initiatives when we identify strong potential for both development impact and cutting-edge science

▶Collaborative research funding managed by a dedicated International Development Research team within ESRC

ESRC/DFID Education and Development:Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems

▶Will fund a portfolio of research on critical policy areas currently constraining developing country education systems from translating resources into better learning outcomes for all

▶Key aim is to provide policymakers and practitioners with concrete ideas on how to improve learning and understanding of how these will translate to their specific context and institutions

ESRC/DFID Education and Development:Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems

▶Three key areas:– How do interacting contextual dynamics

enable or inhibit the delivery of quality education in specific country contexts?

– How do specific policies or interventions designed to delivery quality education and learning for all interact with these contextual dynamics, and with what impact within and beyond the education system?

– How do we better understand, measure and evaluate educational quality and learning outcomes in development contexts?

ESRC/DFID Education and Development:Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems

▶£20 million to be awarded over three annual calls▶Each annual call will have a thematic focus▶First call of £5m focuses on ‘Effective Teaching’ and

closes 25 March▶A range of levels of funding are available in the first call:– Small grants: up to £150K on any topic within the scope of the

programme. 1 year duration.– Medium grants: £200-500K for projects related to ‘Effective

teaching’. 2-3 years duration.– Large grants: up to £1m for projects that will produce a

significant data resource with strong potential for secondary use. Must address ‘Effective Teaching’ and other dynamics influencing teaching practices and learning outcomes. Up to 5 years duration.