The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) puts public money behind research in British universities. Its new delivery plan for strategic priorities mentions in several places their potential to contribute to the 'Big Society' agenda. As everyone knows, the 'Big Society' is a political campaign slogan; it is not a field of inquiry in the Arts or Humanities. The term belongs in a political manifesto, not in a document that shapes the direction of scholarly research.
More than 3,200 academics have already petitioned for the removal of the 'Big Society' from the AHRC plan. More than 30 professional associations in the arts and humanities societies oppose its inclusion. In response to such broad, reasoned and unprecedented opposition, Rick Rylance, the AHRC Chief Executive, has neither given a public justification for including this slogan, nor suggested any amendment that would bring the plan into conformity with the principles of higher education funding to which the AHRC is committed and which taxpayers are entitled to expect.
The signatories of this letter have grave doubts about Professor Rylance's capacity or willingness to defend these principles. When a campaign slogan finds its way into a spending plan, things go badly wrong. When those responsible for its presence refuse to listen to their stakeholders, things have gone from bad to worse. We again call on Professor Rylance to amend the plan or to explain to the public why he is unwilling or unable to do so.
We are members of AHRC Peer Review College, grant holders, grant reviewers and others with an interest in the integrity of the AHRC.
Updates
May 11, 2011
We hit 1,000 signatures tonight. Now call the office of the AHRC Chief Executive and demand they remove this political slogan from their delivery plan.
May 11, 2011
We just hit 100 signatures to keep political slogans out of our research. Post the link to your feed and text three colleagues to keep this momentum moving.
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 9, 2011
Reached 100 supporters
May 9, 2011
May 6, 2011
We have 100 signatures in our sights so please post this link to your Facebook feed right now. Email your departmental representative to ensure they have signed this petition today.
6 Comments
Keep politics out of research funding. It is embarrassing that they even tried this.
Totally agree. Intellectual independence is at risk if we start changing research goals to match whatever party is in power.
Academic research is meant to be independent. This is just propaganda.
Big Society is a joke and definitely doesnt belong in a delivery plan for the arts. get it out.
Its clearly just a buzzword. Stop trying to box academic inquiry into a political frame.
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The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) puts public money behind research in British universities. Its new delivery plan for strategic priorities mentions in several places their potential to contribute to the 'Big Society' agenda. As everyone knows, the 'Big Society' is a political campaign slogan; it is not a field of inquiry in the Arts or Humanities. The term belongs in a political manifesto, not in a document that shapes the direction of scholarly research.
More than 3,200 academics have already petitioned for the removal of the 'Big Society' from the AHRC plan. More than 30 professional associations in the arts and humanities societies oppose its inclusion. In response to such broad, reasoned and unprecedented opposition, Rick Rylance, the AHRC Chief Executive, has neither given a public justification for including this slogan, nor suggested any amendment that would bring the plan into conformity with the principles of higher education funding to which the AHRC is committed and which taxpayers are entitled to expect.
The signatories of this letter have grave doubts about Professor Rylance's capacity or willingness to defend these principles. When a campaign slogan finds its way into a spending plan, things go badly wrong. When those responsible for its presence refuse to listen to their stakeholders, things have gone from bad to worse. We again call on Professor Rylance to amend the plan or to explain to the public why he is unwilling or unable to do so.
We are members of AHRC Peer Review College, grant holders, grant reviewers and others with an interest in the integrity of the AHRC.
Updates
May 11, 2011
We hit 1,000 signatures tonight. Now call the office of the AHRC Chief Executive and demand they remove this political slogan from their delivery plan.
May 11, 2011
We just hit 100 signatures to keep political slogans out of our research. Post the link to your feed and text three colleagues to keep this momentum moving.
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 9, 2011
Reached 100 supporters
May 9, 2011
May 6, 2011
We have 100 signatures in our sights so please post this link to your Facebook feed right now. Email your departmental representative to ensure they have signed this petition today.
6 Comments
Ridiculous to force a political slogan onto serious academic work. Let researchers do their jobs without the government breathing down their necks.
Keep politics out of research funding. It is embarrassing that they even tried this.
Totally agree. Intellectual independence is at risk if we start changing research goals to match whatever party is in power.
Academic research is meant to be independent. This is just propaganda.
Big Society is a joke and definitely doesnt belong in a delivery plan for the arts. get it out.
Its clearly just a buzzword. Stop trying to box academic inquiry into a political frame.
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Ridiculous to force a political slogan onto serious academic work. Let researchers do their jobs without the government breathing down their necks.