League tables: the top universities for research

[yoyo123]

A few years back UCL were above Oxford, ranked 4th. ( when Miss Yoyo was there.)

As the title says however, it is for research. You need to define the parameters for best.

League tables can prove anything. Which is why an outstanding school is not necessarily the best for your child.

I know my daughter compared several different uni league tables when applying - she's like that though, very good at research!

[Catseye]

Perhaps the increased focus on collaboration between fields has driven a concentration of research in the 'golden triangle'. Modern communication supposedly makes it easier to colloborate across the miles but actually having researchers working across different labs on a regular basis still ( atm) requires close proximity.

I think maybe the North could form their own "golden triangles .... pentagons" for example Leeds , Sheffield and Liverpool centered around Manchester

or Birmingham, Warwick and Nottingham ?

i.e collaborating centers of excellence (I am sure you could think of others yourselves) but infrastructure needs to improve thus the importance of HS2 so cutting edge specialist can easily move between one institution and another and spreed knowledge and good practice.

[Guest55]

I presume you are winding us up again catseye?

HS2 (or H2S) is a total waste of money; collaboration doesn't need people to meet.

[mike1880]

And obviously even if you want people to be able to move round more easily you'd spend the money on local transport instead of providing yet another conduit for sucking jobs into Greater London from the regions. (And even for those travelling between the Midlands and London, the majority of the journey is still spent travelling to/from the station at either end, not on the mainline train between the two.)

[daddylonglegs]

We need to invest in and renew our infrastructure unless we are happy for our country to become a quiet, quaint backwater stuck in a timewarp. We need HS2 and HS3 come to that. What happened to the vision of our Victorian ancestors....we can't keep on hoping that their railways, sewers etc will continue to serve our needs for ever.

[Catseye]

I presume you are winding us up again catseye?

no I am not trying to wind up any (collective) us up

btw there is whole world beyond the Watford Gap and we too would benefit from the input of some of the best in their fields as I am sure those in London could benefit from the specialist in The North,sometimes you need face to face communication especially in STEM subjects.

and this does not just apply to education but in almost anything you could think off.

[Guest55]

Skype is face to face - H2S doesn't even go to Birmingham ...

The whole project is way behind in understanding the ways professionals communicate these days.

[Catseye]

Skype is face to face

would you feel comfortable dealing with your GP/Consultant via Skype?

have ever tried to give a maths lesson or lecture via Skype ? if not try it!

it's the same for scientists one needs to see , touch and feel(i.e use all of the five senses )the concept.....surely ?

[Guest55]

Yes - I have been involved in online tuition ... there's no problem with it. Edexcel run brilliant CPD podcasts and Further Maths Support Programme delivers STEP and A level maths online.

GP argument is irrelevant as I don't need a train to go and see one.

[Catseye]

so let me get this straight

what you are saying is an architect could build the Humber Bridge from his computer in London - ye right,...pull the other one, it's got brass bells on !