The UK government's Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has published the report of the Triennial Review of the Research Councils. The review concluded that the current structure remained appropriate, but makes recommendations on various changes that aim at improving the use of public funds, accountability and efficiency. The report contains much interesting material
The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council Strategy 2013-18 is available. Priorities and key themes are.../continued
Priorities
1. Research
1.1. To support the best ideas and projects emerging from researchers.
1.2. To enable larger projects, including facilitating collaboration and interdisciplinarity.
1.3. To bring scholars together to address new research questions and agendas in themes and strategic initiatives.
1.4. To develop both the assessment and formative role of peer reviewers to ensure that funding is directed toward research of the highest quality and greatest ambition.
2. People
2.1. To develop postgraduate support to provide the strongest possible foundation for capacity, quality and creativity.
2.2. To support researchers through skills development, networks and projects.
2.3. To promote intellectual leadership through fellowships and large and thematic projects.
2.4. To develop our engagement with the research community through the measures highlighted under ‘AHRC Commons’ and, in tandem, to enhance the role of the AHRC Peer Review College as outlined below.
3. Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange
3.1. To extend our contribution to the UK’s creative economy through Knowledge Exchange and other means.
3.2. To deepen engagement with public, private and third sector partners to enlarge the contribution to the arts, public engagement and policy formation nationally and internationally.
Themes
Themes were developed by AHRC in 2009-10 and continue into the new strategic period:
