Greeny News

Arts and Humanities Research Council adopting David Cameron motto is political interference

university are coordinating a mass resignation of one of the largest UK funding councils and universities to protest against plans for research funding in the "Great Society" by David Cameron.

event organizers told the Guardian that more than 30 teachers who resign from their posts of examiners for the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the coming weeks because the director general of the CAP refused to backtrack on plans to promote the company the size of a research topic in the humanities.

Critics of the decision of the PAC said that adopting the currency of conservative political interference, making the funding agency of an "arm of the Department of education. "

With a budget of £ 102m, the CAP is the largest source of funding for the work of the humanities in universities in England and Wales and is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Under the principle of the long period Haldane, research funds are intended to be free from political interference.

Since the publication of the CAP strategy last December, for the great company six times, thousands of academics, organizations representing 30 academic disciplines, and UCU, the union of university renowned, have been signed and passed motions opposing the plans.

CAP Executive Director, Professor Rick Rylance, denied that there had been government interference in the decision, but told the Guardian that would have to return to the department of business before removing references high society.

examiner and member of Balliol College, Oxford, Professor Leslie Green, said: "It is impossible to do the work of an examiner, when the CEO is determined to make us an arm Education [] department. If Professor Rylance think it's over and done with it, is wrong. "

There are 1280 members of the University of the peer review of the CAP, which will oversee the allocation of financial grants. Those appointed to unpaid charges are considered experts in their field.

Two professors, Bob Brecher, University of Brighton and Lisbon Manucha College St John's, Cambridge, have already resigned and The Guardian has spoken to half a dozen other researchers who confirmed his intention to resign.

"We wanted to explore all other options first, and I think what happened today. The only option left is to resign. "
Brooks also referred to an article recently by the Higher Education Minister David Willetts superior in which he warned of "dangers" of research councils refers to "political slogans" .