Author
Andrew McRae
Dean of Postgraduate Research, University of Exeter
Andrew McRae is Dean of Postgraduate Research at the University of Exeter and was formerly Head of the English Department. He writes his own blog at http://headofdepartmentblog.wordpress.com.
21 pieces
Newest first, since February 2017 · page 1 of 2
· Comment
English degrees help students change the world
Gail Marshall and Andrew McRae explain the campaign that’s aimed at promoting English degrees for their creative, critical and vocational potential
With Gail Marshall
· Comment
Why did we leave PGRs hanging on for six months?
Andrew McRae reviews the latest announcements on support for postgraduate research students from UK Research and Innovation, asking why it’s taken so long to let them down.
· Comment
2020 made us too – the pandemic postgraduates
Andrew McRae considers the issues facing postgraduate research students in the year ahead
· Comment
Covid-19 will delay and derail PGR projects
Andrew McRae wonders how much longer PhD students must wait for answers – and someone to look out for them.
· Analysis
More questions than answers as PhD students get six months more funding
UKRI has gifted final-year PhD students an extra six months of funding – but is it enough? Andrew McRae on Covid-19 and the economics of PGR
· Comment
A bit of honesty with the new minister wouldn’t go amiss
It’s easy to say “yes, minister, we can fix all of that”. But should we lie like this? Andrew McRae on learning to ignore university critics
· Comment
Third class reporting from the lords
Andrew McRae of the University of Exeter marks down the Lords Economic Affairs Committee’s recent report.
· Comment
The 2018 REF-erendum: building the case for remain
Crossing the academic rigour of the Brexit campaign with the raw constitutional excitement of the REF, Andrew McRae imagines a world where our two favourite topics of discussion become one.
· Comment
Where’s the minister’s vision focused?
The week after Sam Gymiah’s OfS launch speech, Andrew McRae reflects on what the minister seems to see ahead.
· Comment
Burning books on Boxing Day
Andrew McRae adds some light to the latest heated draft about free speech in universities
· Comment
Two-year degrees: another week in the media trenches
Andrew McRae digests recent noise about two-year degrees.
· Comment
The skills debate needs more oohs than AHSS
Andrew McRae suggests how the AHSS can get more oohs
· Comment
How much cross-subsidy? Research funding and the British university
Andrew McRae ponders what the end result will be if we keep under-funding research and fixating on value for money.
· Comment
The value of the TEF
Universities UK’s review of the TEF was based on a survey conducted before the results were released, and it makes for a fascinating snapshot of the views of VC before the agony or ecstasy of the awards themselves. Andre
· Comment
Forget the dead cat: what’s really at stake in the Adonis wars
Andrew Adonis’s focus on VC salaries distracts from the problem he really wants to solve. But doing so would require a radical change in universities’ relationship with the state, says Andrew McRae.
· Comment
Soft TEF, hard TEF, or a Gold, Silver and Bronze TEF?
Andrew McRae wonders whether the sector’s continued dissatisfaction with TEF will eventually wear down the government’s resolve to harden its power.
· Comment
‘Blame the poor, not Brexit’
A once respected national newspaper, desperate for clickbait, has resorted to some rather bizarre explanations for UK universities’ recent performance in international league tables. Andrew McRae kindly answered the call
· Comment
Not forgotten yet – what next for TEF?
If you’re getting distracted by the election, don’t forget that TEF results are due less than a week after we go to the polls. Andrew McRae has some predictions for the future of the exercise.
· Comment
Lacking creativity: Industrial strategy and the arts
Andrew McRae argues that our national obsession with STEM research and skills neglects the importance of creative industries, and the subjects which teach them, to our economy.
· Analysis
One-way ticket to New DLHE
Farewell, then, Old DLHE; your passing is unlikely to be mourned, particularly with New DLHE looking like it’ll be a significant upgrade. Andrew McRae considers the impact on academia.