SUMMARY OF COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 4TH 2001
Purpose
1. The Council met on 4
June to
- consider
and approve a final draft of the report about the Arts and Humanities
in relation to Science and Technology.
- put
in hand specific proposals for the commencement of a study into
the science base's links with the services industries.
- consider
and agree the proposed input to the quinquennial review of the six
grant funding research councils, and, a potential input to
the Roberts Review of post-graduate education and training.
- take note and discuss developments in connection with an ongoing review of Foresight.
2. The council also briefly examined the potential shape of possible issues for consideration and analysis as part of an anticipated future study into higher education.
Attendees
3. In the absence of Mr Stephen Byers and Lord Sainsbury on general election duties, and Professor David King who was attending a meeting at Carnegie in Canada, the meeting was chaired by Sir Richard Sykes. The independent members present were:
Professor Kumar Battacharyya, Professor Sir Alec Broers, Professor Vicki Bruce, Professor Julia Higgins, Dr. Rob Margetts, Sir Paul Nurse, Dr David Potter, Ms Emma Rothschild, Professor Peter Schuddeboom, Professor David VandeLinde and Mr. John Weston.
4. Also in attendance were Dr John Taylor (Director General of Research Councils), Mr. Richard King, Frances Nieduszynska and Mr. Andrew Jackson, and Mr. Pier Bisson from HM Treasury
Discussions and Outcomes
(i) The Arts and Humanities in relation to Science and Technology
5. Members congratulated Ms. Emma Rothschild on this piece of work, and agreed that it should be published and sent to the Prime Minister as soon as possible.
(ii) The Science Bases' links with the Services Industries.
6. Members noted that the
present intention was to complete the first stage definitional work
by the end of the year, with a subsequent consultative stage 2. The
study should avoid duplication of areas covered elsewhere, and should
attempt to address sectors not easily or typically considered in connection
with Science and Technology.
7. The four sectors of Financial Services, Environmental Services, Media and Education were forwarded as potential sectors for study, with outcomes focused upon economic ‘value added' and growth potential. The first definitional stage is to involve meetings with key players within selected sectors, leading to a definition of approach and angle. The culture and time-scale perspective of selected sectors will be taken into account.
8. More Members agreed that a sub-group should be formed to commence this work. Accordingly Peter Schuddeboom agreed to chair the sub-group comprising Paul Nurse, Rob Margetts and John Weston.
(iii) Quinquennial Review
9. Julia Higgins, chair of the sub-group providing input to this review, presented a working draft of the proposed input. Members noted that the focus of this sub-group is upon high level overarching issues of mission, structure and governance, with especial focus upon the research Councils' core task in supporting the UK's Science and Engineering base (SEB). Other issues include the establishment of a management board of the Research Councils to improve joint working; the systematic monitoring of the SEB's position by OST, and a reflection of members views about dual support funding issues concerning the indirect cost of research. Additionally, relevant aspects of the draft report on S&T, the arts and Humanities.
10. Members agreed that Julia's sub-group should proceed on the basis discussed, with a view to providing the CST response to the QRC consultative letter by June 15th 2001.
(iv) Post-graduate Education and Training
11. Members agreed that the best way for CST to contribute to this topic would be through input to review by Sir Gareth Robert's team, announced in the Chancellor's budget in April and reporting to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Education and Trade and Industry in February 2002.
12. Members agreed to form a sub-group to commence work on this topic as soon as possible. Kumar Battacharyya, Alec Broers and Paul Nurse agreed to join a sub-group to be led by David VandeLinde.
(v) Ongoing review of Foresight.
13. The Council received a paper on this review, which was running to schedule for Ministers to decide regarding any changes perceived as necessary in autumn, with any changes being introduced in April 2002.
14. Members agreed to revisit this topic at the next CST meeting in September to consider an ‘options for change' paper that would be available by that time.
(vi) Future work on higher education.
15. Referring to reviews and studies already underway in this subject area, members agreed that work should be undertaken that would provide a useful synthesis of the higher level issues developed from these studies, and should commence as soon as other commitments allow. The Secretariat would provide a position paper for the next CST meeting in September, providing a moratorium of reviews and studies, and identifying any gaps for members to consider.
CST Secretariat
August 2001
Last revised: September 2001
