British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Capacity and Environment

These consultation responses were given in order to shape the areas and content of, and improve research in the humanities and social sciences.

• Academy contributes to language debate on Radio 4 (19 July 2011)
  Vivienne Hurley, Director of Programmes at the British Academy, was interviewed for Radio 4's Word of Mouth about the state of language learning in the UK. She referred to many of the points made in the Academy’s position statement Language Matters More and More that was published in February 2011.

• British Academy Response to the ESRC's Key Priorities Consultation (14 April 2011)
  In response to the ESRC’s Delivery Plan for 2011-15, the British Academy makes suggestions for how each of the proposed ESRC Key Priorities might usefully be expanded and highlights several issues that require further thought to ensure the priorities fully reflect the long-term issues that need to be addressed by work in social science as a whole.

• Language matters more and more (9 February 2011)
  The British Academy position statement makes recommendations on how the higher education sector itself can incentivise and increase language take-up at both school and university levels, whilst building the capacity of the UK’s knowledge economy to meet national and international challenges.

• A Submission from the British Academy to the Home Office, UK Border Agency: The Student Immigration System (28 Jan 2011)
  The British Academy has submitted advice to the Home Office consultation, commenting on proposals to change rules governing the access to and level of university study for overseas students.
  
• International Review of Mathematical Sciences 2010 (1 Oct 2010)
  In this submission, the British Academy argues that mathematics is an essential component of human culture and intellectual achievement, influencing many disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences.
  
• International Benchmarking Review of Psychology (15 Sept 2010)
  The British Academy has contributed to the ESRC’s consultation seeking views on the standing and contribution of psychology research, as well as the ways of enhancing capacity and promoting and shaping future research agendas.
  
• BIS postgraduate review: contribution to call for evidence (5 Jan 2010)
  In this contribution to the government's Postgraduate Review, the British Academy highlights that investment in the research base across the board, including humanities and social sciences, is essential. It calls for increased recognition of international competition; more effective promotion of the UK doctorate overseas and concerted action to address the lack of current postgraduates.
  
• Language Matters (June 2009)
  This report discussed concerns that the future of the UK’s world class research base might be threatened by the decline in modern language learning and calls for a series of measures by Universities and Government bodies to address this danger. The British Academy has also published a shorter position paper.
  
• International Development Select Committee Inquiry: DFID’s Programme in Nigeria. Submission by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the British Academy (May 2009)
  The Academy and the ACU argue that DFID must support the higher education sector in Nigeria to ensure that research conducted in that country is of high quality and connected to the global scientific debate while at the same time addressed to local needs. As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria will undoubtedly depend heavily on its HE and research system to tackle its many developmental challenges, while UK development work also stands to benefit from a well supported and responsive Nigerian research sector.
  
• The Nairobi Report: Frameworks for Africa-UK Research Collaboration in the Humanities and Social Sciences (31 March 2009)
  An examination of the practical steps that need to be taken to strengthen humanities and social science research in Africa.
  
• Review of Government Official History Programme (March 2009)
  In response to Sir Joseph Pilling's Review of the UK Government's Official History Programme,  the British Academy's key recommendations are:
  -  the Programme should continue in some form;
  -  departmental responsibility for the Programme should remain with the Cabinet Office;
  -  oversight arrangements should continue to be light touch;
  -  there should be significantly greater involvement with active and distinguished academics in the governance of the Programme.
  
• Submission to the ESRC consultation on its Strategic Plan for 2009-14 (Sept 2008)
  Key recommendations from the British Academy to the ESRC's public consultation include:
  -  funding must be balanced between strategically directed research in particular areas and “response mode” applications;
  -  the ESRC should engage in wide consultation and peer review before selecting topics for its strategic initiatives;
  -  the government’s emphasis on the potential of research for income generation could undermine the development of research with wider, perhaps more significant, benefits;
  -  enhance the involvement of British researchers in comparative research not only across Europe but more extensively across other major regions of the world.
  
• International Development Select Committee Inquiry: DFID’s Programme in Nigeria. Submission by The Association of Commonwealth Universities and The British Academy (Feb 2008)
  This joint submission by the ACU and the British Academy makes recommendations on funding and facilitating Higher Education and research in Nigeria.
  
• Dearing Review of Language Policy – Response to the Consultation (Feb 2007)
  The British Academy welcomes Lord Dearing's preliminary report and further recommends that the review consider the role of HEIs in language learning and teaching, present policy on curriculum reform and the need for a national strategy for languages.
  
• Dearing Review of Language Policy – Response to the announcement of the Review (November 2006)
  Here the British Academy recognises the problem of a decline in language learning and makes recommendations to improve language uptake.
  
• Response to a Consultation on the Draft Research Agenda for Theme 8 ‘Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities’ in the 7th Community RTD Framework Programme (2007-2013) (July 2006)
  The British Academy contributed ideas for the research agenda of the Framework Programme for EU research. Further comments on Activity 3: Major Trends in Society and their Implications and Activity 4: Europe in the World are also available.
  
• The British Library’s Content Strategy: Meeting the Knowledge Needs of the Nation (June 2006)
  This response from the British Academy applauds the increased priority given to particular areas of the social sciences, but also expresses concern that the strategy gives priorities to research areas which may well only benefit users in the short rather than the long-term.
  
• Response to the AHRC’s consultation – A strategy for supporting and sustaining high quality research in the UK’s Museums, Galleries, Libraries and Archives (March 2006)
  The British Academy contributes advice on research project funding, collaborations and staffing.