Studentship Outcome Statistics

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council did not have the information requested.

Dear Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council,

For all those who have started a BBSRC funded postgraduate studentship in each of the last ten years could you please release the absolute number, and percentage, who have eventually graduated with a PhD.

--

Richard Taylor
Cambridge
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

Richard Taylor left an annotation ()

Astoundingly according to the BBSRC website the research council does not record the overall PhD submission or graduation rates for its students (it records only the "submission within 4 years" figure). It's one thing to use the "within 4 years" figure for decision making regarding future funding decisions, but not collecting the overall figure for PhD submissions or degrees awarded makes it really difficult to assess the effectiveness of the BBSRC's spending on studentships.

This FOI request is intended to determine if the information on the BBSRC website is accurate about what information the research council collects; if successful it will result in the release of key performance information not currently published.

--

Richard Taylor
Cambridge
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

HQ FoIOfficer (SO),

Reference: FoI – 111

Dear Mr Taylor,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the request you made to BBSRC under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The request was received on Thursday 19 August 2010. BBSRC is dealing with it under the terms of Freedom of Information Act.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.

Yours sincerely,

Ksymena Okonska
BBSRC Freedom of Information Officer

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Taylor [mailto:[FOI #45400 email]]
Sent: 19 August 2010 04:15
To: HQ FoIOfficer (SO)
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Studentship Outcome Statistics

Dear Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council,

For all those who have started a BBSRC funded postgraduate
studentship in each of the last ten years could you please release
the absolute number, and percentage, who have eventually graduated
with a PhD.

--

Richard Taylor
Cambridge
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about...

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #45400 email]

Is [BBSRC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council?
If so please contact us using this form:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Disclaimer: This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient(s) to whom they are addressed. If you have received it in error, please destroy all copies and inform the sender. This email and any attachments are believed to be free from viruses but BBSRC accepts no liability in connection therewith.

hide quoted sections

HQ FoIOfficer (SO),

1 Attachment

Reference FoI-111

Dear Mr Taylor,

Please find attached BBSRC's response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely,

Ksymena Okonska
Freedom of Information Officer
BBSRC

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Taylor [mailto:[FOI #45400 email]]
Sent: 19 August 2010 04:15
To: HQ FoIOfficer (SO)
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Studentship Outcome Statistics

Dear Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council,

For all those who have started a BBSRC funded postgraduate
studentship in each of the last ten years could you please release
the absolute number, and percentage, who have eventually graduated
with a PhD.

--

Richard Taylor
Cambridge
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about...

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #45400 email]

Is [BBSRC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council?
If so please contact us using this form:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Disclaimer: This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient(s) to whom they are addressed. If you have received it in error, please destroy all copies and inform the sender. This email and any attachments are believed to be free from viruses but BBSRC accepts no liability in connection therewith.

hide quoted sections

Richard Taylor left an annotation ()

This is the result I expected.

I think it is extraordinary this very basic statistic is not collected.

Without it how can they possibly give any assurance they are getting value for the public money they distribute?