Research report 02/07a

Research relationships between higher education institutions and the charitable sector

A report by JM Consulting to the HEFCE on mapping and good practice

Contents and introduction (read on-line)

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Research report
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Appendix A
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Appendix B
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Appendix C
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Appendix D
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Appendix E
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1	Introduction
	1.1 Terms of reference 1.2 Study method 1.3 Acknowledgements
2	Charity research in the HE sector
	2.1 Context 2.2 The volume and range of activity 2.3 The institutions funded 2.4 Types of grant 2.5 Funding and careers of research staff 2.6 The contribution of charities to HEIs' research strategies 2.7 Financial aspects of charity funding
3	The charity sector and research
	3.1 Charities and charity legislation 3.2 Types of charity 3.3 Medical and biosciences research 3.4 Social science and social policy research 3.5 Arts and humanities research 3.6 Charities' funding of research 3.7 Survey of charities
4	Benefits, issues and good practice
	4.1 Benefits for the charity sector 4.2 Benefits for HEIs 4.3 Issues and concerns 4.4 Summary of good practice for HEIs 4.5 Good practice for charities

Glossary

Appendices

A   Study method and sources of information
B   Tables of statistics on charity-funded research in higher education
C   Results of survey of 'Top 300' charities
D   Illustrations of cost recovery on charity and Research Council funded projects
E   The total costs of research activity for charities and Research Councils, and their funding

1 Introduction

1.1 Terms of reference

1.1.1 The purpose of this report is to map the range of existing research links between HEIs and charities; to help readers to understand the factors which drive and influence these links; to investigate issues or difficulties that may inhibit maximum value for both parties; and to recommend how links could be developed to mutual advantage. As part of this remit, the report also looks in depth at financial issues, particularly related to cost recovery by higher education (HE) institutions on charity-funded research. A summary of the issues in this report and recommendations to both the HE and charities sectors are in the companion report, HEFCE 02/07.

1.2 Study method

1.2.1 The study was commissioned by the HEFCE in November 2000. Most of the work for this review was done in the first half of 2001. It included:

surveys of charities with research in their objects and of the larger charities likely to fund research;
meetings with individual charities, focus groups, and representative groups;
discussions with representative bodies in HE;
visits and case studies at individual HE institutions;
advice and support from an advisory group.

1.2.2 Further details of the terms of reference and study method are given in Appendix A. Although the report is addressed to the HEFCE, our research was done across the UK, and most of our conclusions and recommendations are relevant UK-wide.

1.2.3 The scope of the review is wide in terms of the mapping, but the main focus is on charities which do or may fund research in higher education. We have therefore excluded charities which are predominantly publicly funded or otherwise inappropriate (such as universities; public bodies; NHS Trusts; independent schools).

1.2.4 We include a Glossary of some key terms in Appendix A.

1.3 Acknowledgements

1.3.1 We are grateful to all those who have assisted with the research and discussions which underpin this report. They include particularly the members of the advisory group, and the institutions, charities and other organisations listed in Appendix A.