APPENDIX 6
Memorandum from the Development Studies
Association
The Development Studies Association broadly
welcomes the ESRC's new strategic framework and priorities. The
four new organising dimensions of "capacity, research, engagement
and performance" appear to offer a more realistic and balanced
view of the key elements that the ESRC must pay attention to in
pursuit of their objectives. The DSA particularly welcomes the
explicit recognition of the capacity dimension of the ESRC's responsibility
and the ways that this is now being thought through in the ESRC.
The more internationalist perspective that is
embedded in the new strategic framework is very important and
relevant in the globalised world we encounter. In past years the
ESRC has been prone to being rather narrow in its focus on the
UK and near-Europe. This has meant that it has been difficult
to get funding for social science that is more global in scope,
or was focused on the social science issues and challenges of
other parts of the world. The DSA has concern that although the
new strategic framework embodies a perspective of the ESRC as
an international player, the existing mission statement does not
adequately reflect this. The Mission Statement needs to be modernised.
If it stands as it is, then the ESRC will continue to be vulnerable
to more parochial pressures in view of its role, and may be restricted
in its ability to ensure that UK social sciences engage with global
problems, challenges and issues, and that UK social sciences are
informed in dialogue with the global (and not just US and EU)
social science community.
The new strategic framework affirms the ESRC's
current practise of exploring research initiatives across traditional
boundaries. The ESRCs willingness to work on themes in partnership
with the other research funding councils is important for the
development studies community. As is their willingness to engage
in discussions about how research and capacity development be
supported with government departments such as the Department for
International Development. The DSA strongly supports efforts by
the ESRC to establish a clearer and more systematic link with
DFID, so as to ensure that the efforts of each are complementary,
rather than duplicative or in competition.
The new strategic framework aims for greater
transparency. However, there remains some work to clarify the
ways in which the broader academic community will continue to
be involved in the decisions over research priorities. In particular,
it is important that further thought be given to how the "college"
system fits into this and especially as the "college"
continues to be relied upon for basic (free) refereeing services
in the ESRC system.
Finally, with this new strategic framework and
with increased funding it is important that the ESRC's administrative
capacity increase to meet the challenges. As it stands there is
a perception that the ESRC staff are fully stretched in seeking
to ensure the quality and effectiveness of their systems. Any
increase in ambition with this new framework must be matched by
a realistic increase in administrative capacity.
8 October 2004
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