Media spotlight reaps reward

Media Studies: Westminster University, 1992 rating: 5, 1996 rating: 5

WESTMINSTER University's media studies department got a 5 in 1992 - and found itself the subject of serious media attention, writes Alan Thomson.

In the last four years a sustained effort has been made by the department and the university to ensure world-class research despite the lack of financial advantages enjoyed by older institutions.

Nicholas Garnham, director of the university's centre for communication and information studies, said: "We had never had specific research funding before so the effect on our department was much more dramatic than for departments in old universities."

For six years before the 1992 5 rating the department had been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council under its Information and Communication Technology programme.

ESRC programme funds, plus pump-priming funding by the university, meant that the department was able to produce research that secured the five rating.

On the strength of the five rating, the university received a grant of about Pounds 150,000 rising to Pounds 200,000 a year. This allowed the department to relieve top researchers of much of their teaching.

Three staff had their teaching reduced from the standard 15 hours to six hours a week. Three staff were appointed and they took over half of that teaching as well as carrying out some research. In addition, the university employed several research fellows on five-year contracts plus a departmental research administrator.

Research culture was developed. Regular seminars allowed researchers to discuss their work and departmental heads to keep a check on work. Guest lecturers were invited and meetings were held to identify funding sources.

Dr Garnham said: "The 5 rating helped legitimise our existing research as well as boosting the morale of the researchers."

He admitted that the emphasis on research, particularly the reduction in teaching for some, had led to tension between the researchers and those who mainly taught.

The RAE recognition meant that postgraduate students beat a path to the department. It expanded its doctoral programme, from one or two postgraduates in 1992, to some 19 last year. This has brought in valuable extra income. This year the communication and information centre moved from High Holborn to the university's Harrow campus.