Purpose Outweighs Machinery in Innovation

The higher education sector is adapting to the latest machinery of government change, with the research and innovation brief moving to the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST). This shift follows previous moves from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in 2016, and then to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in 2023.

Civil servants are handling their third departmental move in as many years, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. While universities will be seeking answers about policy continuity and new initiatives, the amount of time and energy required for this change should not be underestimated.

Related: NI students face hidden university costs

Impact on University Research

The creation of DBIST may bring new opportunities for university research, but it also presents challenges. With a broader focus on business, innovation, science, and trade, higher education institutions will need to compete for attention with other sectors, such as steel.

During the time of DSIT, universities were central to the department’s communications strategy, with frequent ministerial visits to higher education institutions. However, with the new departmental structure, institutions will need to evolve their engagement plans to take into account the new political realities.

Related: Low-cost NI degrees carry unseen costs

It doesn’t need stating to Wonkhe readers how critical AI is to growth and national security. But the risk is that every AI announcement or statement on the technology is chalked up as “one for innovation” with no energy or space left on the grid for other critical technologies or research priorities. Likewise, whereas DSIT had the space to seriously consider the financial struggles of universities and their impact on the research pipeline, in the much larger DBIST, higher education will need to compete for attention with sectors such as steel. And in a competition over who is in more immediate crisis, steel is currently winning. Universities will need a new strategy to make sure they are positioned as essential to the Jonathan Reynolds growth m

Many students in Northern Ireland face significant financial burdens due to the high cost of tuition, which can make attending university difficult. [1]For students from NI, the pressure to pay for a degree can be overwhelming, especially when considering the long-term financial implications. [2]Understanding the true cost of an education in Northern Ireland is key for prospective students.