Select Committee on Science and Technology Written Evidence


APPENDIX 32

Supplementary memorandum submitted by the Royal Academy of Engineering

1.  COST EFFICIENCY OF RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS ADMINISTERED BY THE ACADEMY

1.1  Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships

  The Academy currently manages 27 Personal Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships. Grant-in-aid is used in all cases to seed additional industrial support in the ratio 1 : 2. Additional third party support is also generally forthcoming.

  In consequence, the Academy's administrative costs as a percentage of total support for these posts in FY 2001-02 amounted to 1.9 per cent. As a percentage of Grant-in-aid alone the comparable figure was 6.8 per cent.

1.2  Post Doctoral Research Fellowships

  The Academy's recently established Post Doctoral Research Fellowship scheme had nine incumbents in FY 2001/02. The core costs of all of these were borne fully by Grant-in-aid but in several cases third party support also proved to be forthcoming.

  In consequence, the Academy's administrative costs as a percentage of total support for these posts in FY 2001-02 amounted to 3.4 per cent. As a percentage of Grant-in-aid alone the comparable figure was 5.3 per cent.

2.  ETHNIC PROFILE AND POLICY

2.1  Research Chairs and Fellowships

  The Academy does not at present have an ethnic monitoring process for its various research fellowships, selection being based on the sole criterion of excellence in engineering. However, whilst the evidence of existing incumbents reveals wide ethnic diversity The Academy recognises that it needs to understand its obligations better and clarify its policy without delay. To this end the Academy will seek advice from the CRE.

2.2  Staff

  The Academy's policy on equal opportunities for its staff is set out in its Staff Handbook as follows:

    "It is The Academy's policy to ensure that no job applicant is disadvantaged or receives unfavourable treatment and that all employees have the opportunity of advancement and development, regardless of race, colour, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, religion etc."

  As at 8 May 2002, The Academy employed 39 staff of whom six (ie. 15.4 per cent) were members of ethnic minorities, namely:
Middle Eastern2
Asian1
Caribbean1
African1
Afro-American1


  Of the six staff referred to above, three hold positions of manager or assistant manager grade.

May 2002


 
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