It has been announced that Humanities and Social Sciences research funding will be cut, following the government’s move on the Marsden Fund.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins announced the cuts to the Marsden Fund, a grant for scientific research, with proposals judged by independent panels.
Collins stated that Humanities and Social sciences would no longer be backed and the panels would be disbanded.
“The government has been clear in its mandate to rebuild our economy. We are focused on a system that supports growth, and a science sector that drives high-tech, high-productivity, high-value businesses and jobs.
This has come as a huge shock to all Universities around the country with Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland saying it took the whole sector by surprise.
“We have fundamental concerns about the changes, which we believe are short-sighted and will have significant negative effects on all universities’ ability to carry out valuable and critical research in humanities and social sciences.”
She said all universities in New Zealand were united in their condemnation of the changes.
“We know that humanities and social sciences research is hugely valuable to us as a university, and necessary for the well-being of society in general.
“We’ll be doing everything in our power to ensure such valuable research is supported.”
However, BusinessNZ welcomes this change calling it the “right move”.
“New Zealand continues to languish in the productivity space,” she said.
“It’s a problem that can be partly solved through innovation.
“Directing the Marsden Fund to focus more narrowly on research that will help to support high-tech, high-productivity, high-value businesses and jobs is the right move.” says Advocacy Director Catherine Beard.
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Photo Credit: RNZ
