The Funding of Research in Higher Education: Mixed Models and Mixed Results

The dynamics of university units as a multi‐level process. Credibility cycles and resource dependencies

“…At the unit level, there might be large variations in the relative importance of the two streams. At the university level however, institutional resources account for about two-thirds of total funding in most European universities (Jongbloed and Lepori 2015).…”

“…On the contrary, most third-party funds are for hiring research personnel (mostly at the junior level) and research costs. Unlike in the US, in the European context institutional funding also covers part of the general costs generated by external projects, as overhead rates are usually not sufficient to cover all project costs (Jongbloed and Lepori 2015). Since they are largely bound by long-term commitments, institutional funds have a continuous nature (despite attempts to move beyond purely incremental budgets; Moll and Hoque 2011), while third-party funds are in principle more short-term and subject to fluctuations.…”

“…university funding is provided through two channels: Institutional funding attributed to the university as a whole (mostly as a block grant, and then redistributed internally), and third-party funds acquired by the units directly (Lepori 2011). Despite an increase of third-party funds in previous decades, institutional funding still accounts for the largest portion of university budgets in most European countries, with the exception of the UK Jongbloed and Lepori 2015). This institutional and funding context marks a strong departure from the US, where most of the research funding is based on grants.…”

Different recipes for the same dish: Comparing policies for scientific excellence across different countries

“…Several countries have introduced performance-based research funding system in which resources are directed towards excellent performers (Hicks 2012; Lewis & Ross 2011;Lewis 2015;Jonkers & Zacharewicz 2016). In addition, funding has shifted from institutional core funding to competitive project funding (Lepori et al 2007;Jongbloed et al 2015). In a recent report, the OECD observed the emergence of research excellence initiatives (REIs) aimed at encouraging 'outstanding research by providing large-scale, long-term funding to designated research units, with an emphasis on research of exceptional quality.'…”

“…The REF as well as its precursor are good examples of ways to concentrate resources for research in a relatively small number of universities (see e.g. Barker 2007;Jongbloed et al 2015;de Boer et al 2015; REF website). Table 6 Coordinating aspect Description The coordinating actor The four higher education funding bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; managed by the REF team based at HEFCE on behalf of these bodies, and overseen by a steering group of representatives from these bodies.…”