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NEWSLETTER 2001 |
THE ARKLETON TRUST
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The Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research, University of AberdeenThis has been a major year for the Centre, with its staff being involved with no less than five departments/disciplines in the national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which judges the quality of research in UK Universities: the five were anthropology, economics, geography, land economy, and sociology. This reflects the inter-disciplinary work of the Centre. All but one of these departments/disciplines were assessed as RA4 or 5 (two of the top three categories) for research quality, and several of them have improved their grading since the last RAE. There is no doubt that Arkleton staff contributed to this success.However, it was also the year when the three-year research development grant given by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council ended, posing a considerable financial challenge to the Centre, at least until the outcome of the resource allocation resulting from the RAE is known. We have been unable to reappoint some support staff (who have found new jobs) and one research Fellow, who has obtained a contract to teach at Sabhal Mor Ostaig (the Gaelic College) on Skye; we have drawn down on our reserves, and received some support from the University to enable us to continue as a major force in rural development research in Europe. In addition, we have strengthened our joint activities with the Macaulay Institute for Land Use Research through the re-appointment of Dr Deb Roberts as a part-time Senior Research Fellow (economics) and the confirmation of our joint Research Unit on Land Use Change and Rural Development, part of the Aberdeen Research Consortium. Several major projects were completed during the year. These included PAYPIRD, an EU funded project on young people in rural development, co-ordinated by Mark Shucksmith; DORA, another EU funded project, on the dynamics of rural areas in Greece, Sweden, Germany and the UK, co-ordinated by John Bryden [final reports to be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/arkleton/dora1199.htm]; and Natasha Mauthner's project on work and family life in rural communities, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation [see www.jrf.org.uk for the Findings]. This last project "explored how families living in rural communities combine paid work and family responsibilities against the backdrop of changes in rural economies, the nature of work and family life". Prizes awarded to Arkleton Centre Research Fellows so far include the Joel Gregory Prize, the Michaelis Jena Ratcliff Prize and the David Derry Prize. For further information and details, see the Centre's website which contains staff details, news of recent and forthcoming events, research reports, newsletters, etc. It is at www.abdn.ac.uk/arkleton Please note that this document, together with details of events, publications, and links to other relevant sites, is on our website at www.enstoneuk.demon.co.uk/arkleton
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