Written evidence submitted by UCL Knowledge Lab (LEA0132)

About UCL Knowledge Lab

  1. University College London Knowledge Lab (UCL KL) is a research centre within UCL. UCL has a global reputation for excellence in research and is committed to delivering impact and innovations that enhance the lives of people in the UK, across Europe and around the world. UCL Knowledge Lab (UCL KL) is part of the UCL Institute of Education faculty (Number 1 worldwide for Education in 2014, 2015, and 2016 QS World University Rankings). UCL KL’s mission is to understand and to develop digital technologies to support and transform education, and beyond. Its members have a long track record in national and international research. Based on research evidence, we devise new pedagogies, design and implement innovative digital media and smart technologies for teaching and learning, and inform policymakers and educational stakeholders. The lab brings together experts with imagination and insight from across different disciplinary backgrounds and has a particular expertise in the development of Artificial Intelligence applied to Education.

Reasons for submitting a response

  1. The UK Knowledge Lab as an Internationally leading interdisciplinary research centre that has relied increasingly on EU funding for its high quality research. We work closely with our stakeholders, in particular educators and Educational technology businesses both large and small. The UCL Knowledge Lab produces world leading outputs that make a significant impact on teaching, public understanding and the engagement of Educational Technology businesses in research. EU funding for research and the collaborations we have built across Europe have been a key factor in our success.

Executive Summary

  1. This submission is sent on behalf of UCL Knowledge Lab. We welcome the committee's attention to this topic. The referendum result has led to significant and yet uncertain implications for UK research funding and EU research collaboration. The impact of this situation on interdisciplinary researchers, such as those at the UCL Knowledge lab, is particularly serious and requires urgent attention by Government. 
  2. There is a need for clear political will to ensure that the UK continues to be a global leader in research and an active participant in international research collaboration.
  3. The most urgent priority in terms of funding is to secure replacement funding for EU funds. This will require a reframing of the priorities of RCUK, so that valuable interdisciplinary research does not ‘fall into the cracks between the different research councils’. It is likely to also require a significant increase in the proportion of GDP invested in science and research.

We would be happy to expand on any of the points raised in this submission.

 

Factual Information

 

Between 2004 and 2015, the UCL Knowledge Lab received 40% of its research funding from from the EU with a value of around  €20 million, with the majority of the remainder coming from RCUK, and around 10% coming from other sources, including charitable funders and commercial collaborations.  In 2016 we have been awarded new projects with a value of  €9.6 million.

 

  1. Research Impact: with particular respect to impact, Lord Stern’s review of the REF published in July 2016 compliments the 2014 Science and Innovation strategy and the 2014 review of the research councils. Stern commends interdisciplinary research, and calls for a broadening of the way research impacts are defined to capture a far wider range of impacts to include impacts on public understanding and teaching. Impacts will still need to be based on research of “demonstrable quality”, but rather than focusing only on specific research outputs, impacts can be based on research activity or a broader body of work, of individuals and groups that “underpin or lead to the eventual impact of research”. The UCL Knowledge Lab team generate considerable research impact according to this definition.
  2. Short-term implications: The immediate priority for the Government is to address the current uncertainty about EU funding and collaborations.  To counter this uncertainty, the Government must continue to make clear statements about: the UK’s current unchanged status as regards Horizon 2020; a commitment to continuing to support UK participation in Horizon 2020 projects following withdrawal from the EU; the UK’s commitment to continued international collaboration and recruitment in the future, and the Government’s intention to make science and research a significant part of Brexit negotiations from early on.
  3. Longer-term implications: UCL Knowledge Lab academics are active within the EU funding framework and are concerned that Brexit will lead to a loss of influence in EU funded programmes and EU research policy. It is vital that we continue to connect with and employ where appropriate the very best researchers across the EU. Influence of this kind is important for the UK’s involvement in global research. It is vita to our research that UK researchers remain able to fully pursue and participate in EU research collaborations.

 

July 2016