King's College London newsletter

Recurrent Grant and studentnumbers for the academic year1992/3Da7Jid Ball, Deputy Secretary (Planning andResources), explains the background to theUFC's funding announcement for 1992/93,and describes how King's has fared.

You will have noticed from recent Pressannouncements that the UniversitiesFunding Council has recently issued acircular letter giving details of recurrentgrant and funded student numbers for eachuniversity for the academic year] 992/93.In this respect r thought it might be helpfulif I gave a little more backgroundinformation to the announcement and inparticular highlighted how the College faredin the distribution process.

Teaching (T)The total funded numbers for] 992/93 arealmost 322,000. This represents in aggregatethe number funded in 199]/92 plus a further18,000 funded student numbers. TheCollege's total funded number for] 992/93is 5,467, representing an increase of ] 19 overthe 1991/92 baseline.

In calculating units of teaching resource theUFC has in general applied an efficiencygain of 1.5% compared with 1991/92 (0.5%in Clinical Medicine and Dentistry). Unitsof teaching resource have therefore beenincreased by the GDP deflator of 4.5% lessthe applied efficiency gains. The tuition feesincorporated into the Council's calculationshave, in line with the Government's recentannouncement, been increased by 4.5%over 1991/92 levels.

The Press has been keen to draw up 'leaguetables' comparing the successes of differentuniversities in the resource allocation

process. But one should bear in mind thatthe increases refer only to changes inresource compared to this year's allocation;there is nothing absolute about the figures.If league tables are to become the norm thenit would be more appropriate to consideraggregate resource increases over a period ofyears, not simply year-on-year.

However, for the record, the percentageincreases in teaching resource range from a32% increase at Keele, followed closely bySwansea (29%) and Essex (26%), to 3% atAston and York.

London University received a teachingresource increase of 6% over 1991/92: veryclose to the national average (5.9%). King'sreceived an increase of 4.5%, whichundoubtedly reflects the fact that ouroverall percentage of fees-only students in1991/92 (12%) was considerably smallerthan the national average of nearly 19%.

Research (R)The UFC has substantially increased thefunds available for distribution for research.The total increase is over 11 % before thetransfer of certain funds to the Science vote(although it should be borne in mind that,after allowing for the increase in VAT andother special factors, the increase is actuallyonly 8.4%).

To take account of the shift in the boundaryof the dual support system, £87 million hasbeen deducted from the R baseline andtransferred to the Research Councils. Thisis the first step in the two-year programmeof phased withdrawal of Funding Council

The Strategic Plan1991/92 to 1999/2000

Copies of the King's Slategic Plan havebeen despatched to all departments usingthe usual Comment mailing system. Ifyou have not received a copy, or wouldlike further copies, please contact thePress and Publications Office atCornwall House, on ext 3202.

support for Research Council-sponsoredwork.

In determining university grants the UFChas assumed that this deduction will berecovered through grants from ResearchCouncils and therefore the financial effecton individual universities is neutral. Howtrue this will turn out to be for King's inparticular will depend very much on howwell we do in securing Research Councilgrants in future.

In addition to the transfer of funds toResearch Councils, the UFC has furtherincreased its selective allocation of resourcesfor research in two ways. First, the phasedshift in the ratio of funds for JR and SR hasbeen accelerated, so that the average ratiofor 1992/93 has been increased to 2:1 (atarget that had originally been set for1994/95). Secondly, for the purposes ofgrant distribution the multiplier used in theJ R calculations is no longer J but U- 0.5).

Again, recent Press announcements haveindicated a league table of so-called 'R'institutions. Top of the range is theLondon Business School with a 28%increase in R resource above 1991/92,followed by Cambridge and Oxford (19%and 18%) and Edinburgh, Warwick andEssex (17%). Bottom of the range is StDavid's Lampeter (1 %), with Aston andKeele at 2% doing marginally better.

The College Secretary reaffirms the College's commitment to the Thameside Campus.

THAMESIDE CAMPUS COMMITMENTLondon University did reasonably well inthe research allocation process, receiving a14% increase in R resource above 1991/92.Within London, the Institute of Educationand the London School of Hygiene weretop of the range with (23%), followed byImperial (20%), the London School ofEconomics (19%) and University CollegeLondon (17%). Bottom of the range areGoldsmiths (-2%), the Royal VetinaryCollege (1.3%) and RHB C (5.4%). Theincrease in King's R resource allocation is8.6%. Although disappointing, we have toaccept that we are still living with researchselectivity ratings that, by common consent,are no longer typical of KCL; and we hopeto do substantially better on our R fundingwhen the new ratings are announced nextyear.

Financial PositionIn overall terms the College'S total T+R for1992/93 has increased by 5.9%. (Thishowever assumes that we shall recruit thenecessary funded numbers and that thenotional R component associated with thetransfer of UFC funds to Research Councilswill be recovered.) This is ratherdisappointing compared with the nationalT+R increase of 9.6%.

It is too early to comment about our basicrecurrent grant because the CourtDepartment has yet to decide how it willdivide up the London 'cake'. At this stage,however, a preliminary assessment suggeststhat our financial projections and theunderlying assumptions as to futureresource implications for the College werevery close to the mark. We have certainlynot been pessimistic in our forecast.

On a more encouraging note, we have learntthat our efforts to secure continued safetynet funding have succeeded., at least for1992/93. In this respect the financial planinherent within the Strategic Plan assumed,at that time somewhat optimistically, thatthis would be the case. In general termstherefore, whereas our standing within theyear-on-year 'league tables' is notparticularly high, the situation is entirelyconsistent with our financial planningassumptions.

The tables on the last three pages ofComment set out the position of theCollege among British universities, in termsof total increase in resource from the 1991/92 baseline, as well as the College's positionwithin London University.

The recently adopted Strategic Plan 1991/92to 1999/2000 reinforces the strategicimportance of the Thameside Campus forthe longer term academic and financialprosperity of the College. Despite externalfactors - including the current state of theproperty market and the recentlyannounced 'safeguarding direction' onbehalf of London Underground Lld - whichseriously impede the disposal of the King'sRoad site in the short term (thus deferringthe capital in-flow which is a prerequisite tostarting work on Cornwall House) thecommitment to the Thameside Campusremains undiminished.

Indeed, the merger of King's and UMDS,which is being pursued with renewedvigour, is crucially dependent upon housingthe preclinical and basic medical sciences ofboth Schools under a single roof. Therealisation of the Thameside Campus offerssuch an opportunity and therefore assumeseven greater importance.

Given the uncertainty of timing of therecovery of the property market, theoriginal date for the commencement ofworks in Cornwall House (namely July1993) will be delayed - possibly by severalyears. In consequence, the academic andfinancial objectives described in theStrategic Plan prudently make noassumption about the commissioning ofCornwall House and., correspondingly,their realisation is specifically notdependent upon its availability during theperiod covered by the Plan. Prudence mustnot, however, be taken to imply that thecommissioning of Cornwall House is anythe less imperative or urgent. The Collegeis committed to moving ahead with theproj ect at the earliest point thatcircumstances will allow.

Meantime, to allow for the expansion ofstudent numbers, particularly in the Arts­based departments, and to provide asignificant measure of relief for inadequatelibrary and social provision at the Strand,some activities presently based there willneed to be accommodated elsewhere. Twomain options are proposed: one involvesthe displacement of the greater part, if notal~ of Life Sciences activities from the

Strand; the other involves the displacementof the whole of Central Administration(including the offices of the Principal andSecretary), together with at least oneacademic department. In either eventuality,the accommodation now occupied by theSchool of Life Sciences at Kensington,Manresa Road and Drury Lane will need tobe reduced in order to absorb activitiesdisplaced from the Strand. These changesare a necessary, but temporary, requirementto facilitate growth during the period priorto the commissioning of Cornwall House;in no sense do they constitute a sustainablelong-term alternative.

The completion of the Thameside Campus,upon which King's has already embarked,remains a primary goal.

W C Slade, College Secretary

Thameside campus - a primary goalfor King's

Law Journal Special Offer

Volume 2 of the highly successful King'sCollege Law Journal which was launchedlast year under the editorship of Dr RobertBlackburn, is now available. Articles dealwith a wide range of legal topics includingCitizens Charters, the recent Factortamecase of conflicting parliamentary andEuropean Law, confidentiality in modernmedical practice and the new stockexchange legislation.

The normal subscription price is £22, but alimited number of copies have been set asidefor King's students/staff at the special priceof £5 from Valerie Donnelly, EditorialAssistant, KCLJ, Law School.

CONFERENCE FOR HEADS OF INDEPENDENT SIXTHFORM AND TUTORIAL COLLEGES

RESEARCH NEWS

Robot grant

This conference was or~ed by thechools and Colleges Liaison Office, and

held at King's on 7 February. Theparticipating Colleges were members of theConference for Independent FurtherEducation (CIFE) formed in 1973 as anas ociation of 32 of the most prominentestablishments and dedicated to maintainingthe highest possible standards.

The Conference has established a strong andindependent inspectorate which ensures themaintenance of standards in a sector whichhas experienced great and otherwiseunregulated expansion. Membership ofCl FE is restricted to those institutionswhich are recognised as efficient by theBritish Accreditation Council whichcomprises representatives from universities,polytechnics and major educational bodiesin the UK.

Members of CIFE offer two year A levelcourses to students taking the examinationfor the first time and one year courses tothose attempting to improve grades aftertwo years in a conventional sixth form.

umbers of students are generally in therange 150-500 and A level results andsuccess in obtaining places in highereducation are often most impressive.

Four of the Colleges participating hadprovided 101 students currently at King's,

but it is perhaps equall interestin thatseveral have sent us none in the sameperiod. Cbrly this is a potentially fertilerecruitment field.

The meeting was addressed by ProfessorLucas on the pres ures facing uruver itiesand the approach adopted by King's in itsacademic plan, and Dr Mike Laird spoke onthe implications for admissions. Therewere vigorous contributions from severaltutorial college principals. They werestrongly of the opinion that we would findit very difficult to maintain standards whilstundergoing a large expansion. There wassome concern that we should recognise thequality of teaching the students received atthe tutorial colleges and that in general thesetudents had very satisfactory records on

going to university. Lively discussionsfollowed during a buffet lunch and thefeeling that it had been a succe sful meetinghas been reinforced by comments sincereceived from the visitors, includinginvitations to host a future meeting to buildon the initial contacts.

The visitors were supplied with lists of allKing's admissions tutors (who receivedsimultaneously from the Schools LiaisonOffice a list of addresses of CIFE members).

Dr John NicholasSchools and Colleges Liaison Officer

Dr Sergio A ela tin (Signal andInformation Processing Group,Department of Electronic and ElectricalEngineering) has recently been awarded atravel and equipment grant (£9,589) by theRoyal Society to investigate cost-effectivecontrol algorithms and parallel computerarchitectures for co-ordmated two-handeddextrous robots. The project will determinespecific transputer-based computerarchitecrures that will satisfy realisticperformance and cost requirements, andexplore software engineering issues throughthe use of the programming language ADA.

egotiations with a UK robot manufacturerare currently underway to apply the resultsin the context of unsupervised clinical testsin a Cytology Laboratory.

Funding from Ford Motors

ot withstanding the current recessionarysituation in the motor industry, the Centrefor Heat Transfer and Fluid FlowMeasurement has been awarded two researchgrants of£86,518 and £10,050 by Ford MotorCompany Limited to investigate flows ininternal combustion engine inlet ports andmanifolds respectively. The research involvesthe use of both laser and ComputationalFluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques for theimprovement of manifold and port design.

Dr M Yianneskis

Physics and the environmentsymposium for fifth and sixth form students

We are all aware that the environment ispresently a matter of scientific and politicaldebate, and that it can be very difficult to findthe correct balance between undue concernand cold scientific facts.

To help redress this imbalance the PhysicsDepartment has had the exciting idea ofbringing together a panel of national andinternational experts, who will each give aformal lecture on one particular topic, andthen take part in an open forum of questionsand answers. Amongst the topics coveredwill be nuclear power, fossil fuels, ozoneholes, water resources, climate, pollution andelectromagnetic fields.

The symposium is for fifth and sixth formstudents, and ational Grid has agreed tosponsor the event. If anyone would Like toattend, please apply as soon as possible asplaces are limited.

The Physics Department hopes to make thistype of symposium a regular feature of itsannual calendar and is looking forward to ahighly successful 'first day'.

The symposium will be held on Wednesday22 April 1992 at King'S. For further detailsand application forms please contact ]ulianGreenberg, Department of Physics on ext2297.

Modern Poetry in Translation

Professor orma Rinsler has received a gramfrom the Arts Council to enable the College(through the School of Humanities) torclaunch an internationally-knownpublication, Modem Poetry in Translation,edited by Daniel Weissbort. The grant of£9,000 is for the first year and covers twoissues of the review: further funding willdepend on its success. The College holds thearchive of the first series of Modem Poetry inTranslation, so it is particularly pleasing to beable to preside over the renaissance of thisdistinguished publication. Series Two,

umber I should be available in April.

Academic franchising: recruitment andspace-saving for King's?

Dr Venetia France, Schools and CollegesLiaISon Officer, discusses the characteristicsand benefits of 'franchising' arrangementsbetween higher education institutions andfurther education colleges.

What is franchising?Franchising is devolving teaching of coursesor course-units from HE to FE colleges.For example, the first 'foundation' year of afour-year degree course might be taught atone or several FE colleges. Earliestfranchised courses were in science andengineering, but now the range includes lawand humanities. Almost any course, part ofa course, new or old, can be franchised,eg: Access courses; foundation courses;short courses; first years or course-units ofdegree courses; '2+2' DipHE with transferto the appropriate degree course 'withadvanced standing'. King's would haveresponsibility for approving andmaintaining the quality of the franchisedcourse content and its assessment.Marketing and student selection may beshared or done by the FE college, usingcriteria established jointly.

Franchising is probably the most rapidlyexpanding area of HE/FE collaboration;polytechnics outside London havedeveloped furthest and at present only oneuniversity (Ulster) is involved. In terms ofscale, Lancashire Poly has 1500 students on12 links, Poly South West has 15 links.Hatfield has grouped four or five local FEcolleges into a 'Regional Polyversity'.

The benefits of franchising for studentsare:

• an opportunity to study full or part-timein a familiar environment at a local FEcollege;

• acclimatizing to the academicenvironment before embarking on a courseat university;

• academic and social support from locally­experienced welfare staff and tutors in theFE college;

• unlike our present access students,students on franchised science, technologyand some humanities 'foundation years' of

four-year degree courses obtain mandatoryawards;

• students on franchised courses would haveopportunities to come to King's and makepersonal links.

The benefits for King's include:

• increased UFC-funded student numberswithout additional pressures onaccommodation;

• the FE college receives an agreed portionof income for each student;

• widening access by targetting recruitmentto local groups of ethnic minorities, women,returning learners, part-timers;

• the possibility of TEC resources forcourse developments.

At present King's has 30 students recruitedjointly with City of Westminster College totheir Access courses. There is no benefitfinancially to the College in this scheme andno benefit in terms of current studentnumbers.

With franchising there are benefits infinancial and student number terms forKing's. The planned expansion in numbersand consequent teaching accommodationproblems at King's would make franchisingan attractive option.

The Continuing Education Unit hopes toproduce a brochure of the continuingeducation programme which will be offeredby the College in 1992/3. Such a brochurewould be very useful to give to the manycommercial, public and professional contactsmade by the Unit and could also be sent tocasual enquirers.

It is obviously desirable that the publicationbe as comprehensive as possible. If you areplanning any such events - that is, anythingother than undergraduate and postgraduatecourses - may I urge you to contact theContinuing Education Unit on extensions3055/6. It does not matter if some detailshave not been finalized - even dates andprices can be omitted and be covered by a'details on application' - and a generalcaveat of 'subject to demand' can be given.Conferences, as well as courses, can beincluded, providing there is a fee to attend.

If we have this information we may also beable to help your publicity effort by seeingwhether your event might interest the people,or organisations on one of the databases wehold.

Valerie DaviesDirector of the Continuing EducationUnit

CLARISSA SUCCESSAt the time of going to press, Clarissa, BBCTV's recent classic drama serial, has beennominated for five BAFTA awards. Clarissawas adapted from Samuel Richardson'smammoth novel by Dr David okes, Readerin English at King's, and by ]anet Barron, anEnglish Department graduate. The serial hasbeen nominated for an award for best dramaserial for 1991. It was additionallynominated for awards for best design, bestcostume, best film-editing and best camerawork at the BAFTA Craft Awards butunfortunately was pipped at the post. Theawards ceremony, which will be ftImed liveby LWT, will be held on March 22 at theGrosvenor House in the presence of HRHthe Princess Royal.

AUDIO VISUAL NEWS

As part of our on-going training programme there have been staff moves since the break. RuthGarvey has moved to Kensington and Paul Marrion has returned to the Strand. Both of themare doing photography this term.

Angela Cole

Congratu lations

Before Chri tma the Unit purchased a Liquid Crystal Video Projector. This projector, aboutthe size of a small suitcase, is capable of projecting full motion colour video of an acceptablequality on to a screen of up to 10 feet wide. The main attraction for the unit is that the set uptime is only about five minutes and the equipment is portable. The projector is also capable ofshowing French or American TV standards with a suitable video recorder. If users book avideo and monitor it may well be that for operating convenience we will use this device.

King's Accomm ation Officer. Angela Colehas been awarded the fIrSt prize for thelnstirute of Housing's Profes ionalQualification for the 0 ember 1991Examination. This is a nationwideexamination, and 727 people took pan intotal with 392 people sitting for the ftnallevelthree examinations. Angela gained thehighest marks at anyone sitting in the fmalexamination on the project and the practicalexperience requirements. She will receive agold medal from the Institute (as well as acheque) at a presentation inJune.

The College has decided to renew the Broadcast Copyright agreement with the EducationRecording Agency. In consequence, programmes recorded 'off air' may be made and replayedfreely. There is a new scheme being set up by the British Universities Film and Video Councilto record all terrestrial broadcasts so that copies could be obtained of missed programmes.This scheme will start from 1 April and run in the first instance for 18 months. However, therewill be recordings made before this date to test the system So if you really want that copy of'Panorama' please contact ick Bugg - we may be able to get it!

Staff Cricket

If you are interested and would like to findout a bit more about us, any of thefollowing people can give you moreinformation.

Strandeil Spencer, Biochemistry, ext 2734;Johnicholas, Chemistry/Schools Liaison,

exts 1180/3003; Chris Chunnilall, Physics,ext 3740; Bill Sherman, Physics, ext 2572;Mark andler, Electrical Engineering,ext 2365; Rob Rist, Physiology ext 2385

We had an enjoyable season last year,winning rwo, losing four and drawing three,with one game lost to the weather. Since weare competing with other activities such asmeetings, we do require a large 'squad' ofinterested player so as to be able to raise afull side throughout the season, and anyonewho makes themselves available for a few ofthe games i certain to play.

I The College ha a Staff Cricket team which'performs' on most ednesda afternoonsdurin the summer term. e engage inriendly but good and competitive spirit

with other staff teams on the 'circuit',namel LSE, UCL, Goldsmith's, RHB C,City of London Polytechnic, Polytechnic of

est London, the Passport Office and theocial Club. The majority of the games are

played at our sponsground at Berrylands( ew alden), which is by far the finest inthe circuit.

Drury LaneJames I Iill, Anatomy, 071-836 8851, ext 204

Our order forms for equipment still bear the instruction to complete in duplicate, but this is nolonger required so please ignore it.

KensingtonRichard Beepat, Chemistry, ext 4287; PhilCunningham, Computer Centre, ext 4239

Give As You Earn

Why not start now? Contact Alison Ryderin Payroll, ext 3764 for more information.

Anyone receiving payor a pension taxedthrough PAYE can join in. You can donatethe money to any charitable or voluntaryorganisation you choose; churches, scoutgroups and other similar organisationsqualify too.

Hope to see you during the season!

Books wanted

Wellington Hall has a large library room voidof any books. We are prepared to adopt anyunwanted books you may otherwise throwaway when spring cleaning during the Eastervacation. Hardbacks, paperbacks, fiction,non-fiction and academic. Please call 071­8343560/3980 to arrange a collection point,or deliver the books to Wellington Hallreception. Thank you.

Thousands of people in work places allover the country are using Give As YouEarn to support their favourite charities.

Why? Because giving direct from yourpay provides a regular income for thecauses you care about, and because everytime you give, the laX you would havebeen charged on that amount is given too.For example, if you decide to give £ lOamonth it will cost you £7.50 because thetax of £2.50 you would have paid (at basicrate) will go to the charity you supportinstead.

You can give up to £600 a year or £50 a month.

Your monthlygift

£5.00£10.00£25.00£50.00

Cost to you

£3.75£7.50£18.75£37.50

Tax included inyour gift

£1.25£2.50£6.25£12.50

Sir James Black

Sir James Black to become Chancellor ofthe University of Dundee

The College is delighted to learn that SirJames Black, Professor of AnalyticalPharmacology at KCSMD and Director ofThe James Black Foundation, has acceptedan invitation to become the next Chancellorof the Universiry of Dundee.

Succeeding the Right Honourable The Earlof Dalhousie, Sir James will be installed asChancellor at a ceremony on 29 April.

Sir James has strong links with theUniversiry of Dundee. Born and broughtup in Scotland, he received his medicaltraining at University College, Dundee,graduating MB ChB from the Universiry ofSt Andrews. After graduating he spent ashort time as an Assistant Lecturer inPhysiology at Dundee.

Sir James has enjoyed a long anddistinguished career culminating in thewinning of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in1988 for his development of life-savingdrugs. His work at ICI led to thedevelopment of Beta blockers and hisdiscovery of propranolol - therevolutionary drug used to treat high bloodpressure and heart disease. Whilst at Smith,Kline and French, he defined H2-receptorswhich led to the discovery of cimetidine, amajor breakthrough in the treatment ofpeptic ulcers.

He joined King's in 1984, establishing athriving research department in AnalyticalPharmacology. The James BlackFoundation, an independent pharmaceutical

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6':

research company closely connected withthe College, was opened in 1988.

Sir James received a knighthood in 1981 andwas elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in1976.

Appointment to newChair of

Business LawAdrian Shipwright has been appointed tothe new Chair of Business Law at King'S.He was previously a partner in the taxdepartment of the firm of SJ Berwin & Co,and will continue to act as a consultant tothem. He has been a visiting professor atKing's for the past two years and is Directorof the College's Tax Research Unit. Hetook up the new Chair on 3 March.

This prestigious appointment is an exampleof the coming together of the academic andthe professional worlds in business andtaxation law, and Profe sor Shipwright'sdistinguished career has combineduniversity teaching with practice in leadinglaw firms. At SJ Berwin & Co, and in hisprevious partnership with Denton HallBurgin and Warrens, he specialised in .international and corporate tax, and for fiveyears before that, between 1977 and 1982,he was a University Lecturer in Law atOxford, Official Student (Fellow) and a

Tutor in law at Christ Church, Oxford andan examiner in tax and company law for theUniversiry. He has also lectured at theUniversities of Cambridge and Bristol.

He will be teaching both undergraduatesand postgraduate in the fields of businesslaw and personal, corporate and foreignaspects of taxation law, and his appointmentconfirms the King's College School of Lawas having the strongest tax team in thecountry. He will continue as Director ofthe Tax Research Unit - currently the onlyunit of its kind in Europe.

Professor Shipwright, who is 41, receivedhis BA degree and first-class BCl degree atOxford in the early 1970s. He started hislegal career in 1974 as an articled clerk withlinklaters and Paines. He is the author ofseveral books including UK Taxation and

InteLlectuaL Property (with Jeff Price ofKing's, 1989); UK Tax and LandDC'lIeLopment (1990 second edition) and theforthcoming UK Tax and Trusts. He iseditor of and a major contributor toStrategic Tax Planning; has writtenextensively for legal journals, and is a weLl­known conference speaker.

Among the legal transactions in which hehas been involved are the Hoylake bid forBAT, the largest bid ever made outside theUSA; the Pembridge bid for DRG; taxplanning for the structure of the RugbyWorld Cup and the enfranchisement ofLondon Weekend Television.

Professor Adrian Shipwright

FE AND HE: THE NECESSARYCONNECTION

STAFF NEWS

Thi was the title chosen by Roger McClurefor his address to a seminar for principalsand representatives of FE Colleges held bySchools Liaisons Office in King's on 6March. Roger McClure is a member ofKing's Council, lately flJ1ance director ofthe PCFC and now finance director­designate of the new Further EducationFunding Council, so the 32 FE visitors andabout 25 King's staff were particularlyinterested in his comments on futuredevelopments linking HE and FE.

Roger McClure suggested several thingswhich ought jointly to be considered byKing's and other HE institutions togetherwith their partners in FE who were nowgaining independence from LEAs. Accesscourses were one obvious area but therewere others which would probably be evenmore significant. Already polytechnics wereactively exploring this field by franchisingcourses (see page 4); universities too neededto discuss these possibilities. The newarrangements for FE would give a verywelcome enhancement of both image andstatus to the colleges, and it would besensible in the future not to think ofdivisions but to plan for FE as part of thewhole 'Post Secondary Education' sector.He felt universities were too inflexible atpresent and see education in terms of three­year single or joint honours degrees; morescope was needed to provide what is rightfor the individual student." He also pointedout that FE and HE know too little abouteach other; when academics from both sidesexplore academic areas of interestcollaboratively, there will be benefits for allin teaching and research. For this reason hefelt meetings such as the present seminarshould be continued.

As a result of the meeting it was decided toset up a contact network between King'sand the FE Colleges. This would be basedon subject groupings so that there would bea community of interest and opportunitiesfor staff to meet and find out more abouttheir companion institutions. There wouldbe another general meeting and it wasagreed that this should be held in one of theColleges.

". King's Strategic plan is looking to ways ofproviding such freedom. Ed.

Or Venetia FranceSchools Liaison Officer

Professor Robert Hill, Deputy Head of theSchool of Physical Sciences and Engineeringhas been elected a Fellow of the RoyalSociety of Edinburgh.

Professor Anthony C Davies, Departmentof Electronic and Electrical Engineering atKing's College, has been elected Chairmanof the United Kingdom and Republic ofIreland Section of the Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE), witheffect from 1 January 1992. The Section ispart of IEEE Region Eight, which coversWestern, Central and Eastern Europe, theMiddle East and all of Africa.

John Muir,Vice Principal (ExternalRelations), responded from the College andAngela Broad, Vice Principal ofWestminster College, from the FE sector.Janet Clark, Principal of City and EastLondon College spoke on the 'LondonTogether' initiative set up by JohnAshworth. (A copy ofthe report on this wiLL

be available in late March from SenateHouse External Relations Department).

FOOD SAFETY AWARD

On behalf of the College, John Muir, Vice Principa~ External Relations, accepted a cheque for'a substantial sum' from Mr Robert Crozier, former Chief Environmental Health Officer ofWestminster City Council.

Mr Crozier, now a food hygiene consultant, made the donation to establish a prize which willbe awarded to the student on the new BSc Environmental Health course who demonstrates themost meritorious performance in the field of food safety.

(From left to right) Mr Robert Crozier, John Muir, and Norman Parkinson, Lecturer inEnvironmental Health.

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LETTERtechnicians and students in techniques andinstrumentation;

Special services and areas of expertiseeg workshop (electronic and mechanical),photography, light and electron microscopand tissue culture provision, computer andinstrumentation advice;

Dear Editor,

We are writing to draw your attention tothe potentially damaging effects thatchanges in technical staffing levels maybring when the Academic Plan comes topass.

BOOK NEWSiLliam Rowe (Department of Spanish and

Spanish-American Studies) is the author incollaboration with Vivian ScheLling, ofMemory and Modernity; Popular Cuuure inLatin America, London, Verso 1991

Lord Lister in the old King's College Hospital, 1890

The Story of King's CollegeHospital and its MedicalSchool

Douglas Britten (Ed), The Story of King'sCollege Hospital and its Medical Schoo~Farrand Press, London, 1991. Pricesinclude postage and packing - Softback£12.00, Hardback £22.50, Leather Quarter­bound £55.00 - from KCH Appeal TradingLimited, King's College Hospital, DenmarkHill, London SE5 9RS.

This is a story of progress, an intimateaccount rather than a formal history. Abook by King's men and women for King'smen and women. In their affectionate textscan be seen the impact of larger events ­startling developments in medicine, thefinancial problems of volunary hospitals,the support of men and women of goodwillboth in the Victorian period and after theinception of the NHS and the emergence ofwider concepts of healthcare in the 1970sand 1980s.

Lyn Roberts, Assistant Appeal Director,The King's Appeal

We are concerned that a reduction of 7technical posts within College, ieapproximately 30%, is being forecast overthe next three years. This, coupled with therequired increase in student numbers andthe possibility of a longer teaching day, aswell as a third semester, will necessitate aconsiderable reduction in the servicesprovided by UFC-funded technical staff.

Currently, technical staff have a major rolein the following areas:

Finance and administration eg advice oninternal and external orders, suppliers anddiscounts, accounting of UFC funds andresearch grants, checking of orders,payment of invoices, processing of pettycash and reimbursement for personalexpenditure of academic and technical staff;

General management eg organisation ofspecial equipment rooms and computinglaboratories, organisation of mai ntenancecontracts for equipment, organisation ofrepairs and improvements, maintenance andstock control of consumables, equipmentand cylinder stores, washing-up andlaundry provision, security, training of

Safety eg maintenance of bank of safetydata sheets, organising afe di posal ofspecialised waste such a radioactive, clinicaland hazardous chemicals to comply withregulations, checking of equipment forelectrical safety (legislated), first-aidprovision.

We would also question the rationalebehind the disproportionate reduction intechnical staff numbers. The implicationsfor the future must be very considerable,bearing in mind the loss of expertise thatthese cuts will bring. The cuts will also beseen as an insult to the contribution madeby technical staff to the academic excellenceachieved over recent years. With suchmajor implications there can only be afurther lowering of morale among technicaland academic staff alike.

The Superintendents' Group

Bilingual Reference Books

Dr Valerie Worth-Stylianou, Department ofFrench, is Series Editor for a new series ofbilingual reference works, Cassell LanguageGuides. The first two books coveringFrench (by Dr Worth-Stylianou) andGerman will be available from May 1992.

The books break new ground in a numberof ways. They are addressed both tolanguage specialists and also to nonspecialists with some proficiency in thelanguage (eg academics in other fields,executives, thinking tourists). The authorshave tried to stress the relationship betweenlinguistic usage and social context.

The series should be of interest both toKing's students of languages, and also tostaff in other departments who havecontacts with French, German, Italian orSpanish speaking colleagues.

, •.w, ,~.•.~~~~ :.:.

CONCERTS

Department of MusicThursday 9 April, 13.05Catherine and Anthony Angelo, piano duo ­music by Debussy, Brahms and GraingerRoom G01, Strand

CONFERENCESThe Centre for Medical Law and Ethics atKing's is hosting the first annual conferenceof the United Kingdom Forum on HealthEthics and the Law on Decision-making andproblems ofincompetence from 8 April to 10April. Topics for discussion include:sterilisation and incompetents; mentaldisorder and decision-making; dying and theright to die; living wills, substitutedjudgement and proxy decision-making andchildren and the courts. Further informationfrom Amanda F1etcher, Centre for MedicalLaw and Ethics, ext 1216.

The Centre for Late Antique and MedievalStudies is organising an internationalconference on Kings and Kingship inMedieval Europe in the Great Hall, King'sCollege London from 23 to 25 April.Further details and registration forms can beobtained from Or Anne Duggan,Department of History on ext 1082.

May Ball

The Annual King's College Students'Union May Ball is being held at the SavoyHotel on Saturday 2 May. The ticket priceof £50 includes a reception, a four coursedinner starting at 19.45 and liveentertainment until 01.00.

Tickets are on sale from 12.00-14.00 atStrand Reception (1st Floor MacadamBuilding) and from 12.00-14.00 every dayexcept Wednesday at Kensington orChelsea Student Union shops. If youwould like to attend, please call theStudents' Union on 071-836 7132 orext 1244.

SEMINAR

Randall SeminarMonday 30 March, 16.15Tryptophan Synthetase: a mullifunctionalchannelling enzyme systemOr David Davies, Laboratory of MolecularBiology, IH Bethesda, USAThe Lecture Theatre, Drury LaneTea available from 16.00

Study Skills Seminar

Finals are almost upon us and the StudentServices section is again holding a StudySkills seminar for all anxious students onWednesday 6 May at 14.00 - 16.30 in Room1B27, Strand Building. The seminar isintended to provide students with apractical, realistic approach to studying,study techniques and ways of coping withexam anxiety. Some comments from lastyears participants were:

'As a finalist, I wish I had attended in myfirst year','A very friendly atmosphere','1 feel more confident about examsgenerally''This seminar should be COMPULSORY'.

1would request that staff bring this seminarto the attention of students who may beinterested.

Celia CockburnWelfare and Information Officer

SMALL ADS

For SaleWhite wooden book shelf unit, 2ft wide x6ft high, £20; grey 4-drawer filing cabinetwith hangers, £35; Drugasar 655/2balanced-flue gas convector room heater,£35. All as or near new condition. Buyercollects from Beckenham. Offersconsidered. Please ring R ]owitt on ext4487 or 081-7783877.

Flat to Let in FranceLarge garden flat in St Pair Sur Mer, nearbeach. Sleeps maximum of eight from £120per week. Please phone 05612-331 for moredetails.

KCLA EVENTS59th Queen ElizabethCommemoration Dinner

The Commemoration Dinner is thehighlight in the Queen Elizabeth(Kensington) branch calendar, andtraditionally a friendly and informal event atwhich past and present members of staffand students of QEC and the Kensingtonsite enjoy getting together. All members ofstaff are, however, warmly invited to attendand bring guests.

The Dinner will take place at theKensington site, starting with a reception inthe Council Room from 19.00. Dinner willbe served in the Old Refectory at 19.30, andthe Queen Elizabeth bar will be openafterwards until 23.00. Tickets are £19.50each, which includes pre-dinner drinks,four-course meal with wine, coffee andport. Dress will be lounge suit.

Contact Pat Gray in the Alumnus Office(Room MB10 Cornwall House, ext 3053) ifyou would like to come.

Comment is the College's regular staffnewsletter, issued by the Press andPublications Office (ext 3202) three timesa term, with special editions if required.Contributions are welcomed from anymember of staff of the College. Thesemay take the form of, for example, newsof events or people, views on Collegematters, photos, items for sale. Pleasenote, the Editor reserves the right toamend items as necessary. If possible,please send your piece on an AppleMacintosh 3.5" Micro Floppydisk, usingMicrosoft Word programme.Contributions for the next edition ofComment should be received by mid­day on Friday 1 May.

Fe allocation of recurrent grants

Percentage change in teaching and research resource 199 92 and 1992/93

niversities % change % change % change

Rank T Rank otional R Rank T+ otional R

Keele 1 32.2% 64 2.5% 1 23.4%

Essex 4 25.6% 12 16.8% 2 22.4%

Swansea 2 28.6% 59 4.7% 3 21.5%

SOAS 3 26.1% 47 8.7% 4 20.5%SLDavid's 5 23.2% 68 1.1% 5 18.2%

Dundee 6 20.6% 24 12.1% 6 18.0%Stirling 7 19.7% 41 9.0% 7 16.7%Bangor 8 19.2% 61 3.8% 8 14.5%

London School of Hygiene 47 4.0% 3 22.6% 9 14.2%

City 12 14.6% 22 12.5% 10 14.0%

LBS 59 3.3% 1 27.6% 11 13.7%

Holloway/Bedford 10 16.6% 58 5.4% 12 13.5%

Strathclyde 9 16.8% 56 6.0% 13 13.4%

Birkbeck 13 14.5% 29 11.0% 14 13.3%BPMF 47 4.0% 7 18.2% 15 13.1%

Leicester 19 12.4% 21 13.1% 16 12.6%

Sussex 15 14.0% 36 9.7% 17 12.4%ewcastle 20 12.3% 23 12.4% 18 12.3%

RoyalPG 47 4.0% 17 14.3% 19 12.0%Liverpool 18 13.1% 39 9.4% 20 11.9%

Heriot-Watt 14 14.4% 55 6.4% 21 11.7%

Durham 24 11.5% 26 11.6% 22 11.5%

Glasgow 25 10.1% 18 13.9% 23 11.4%

Salford 11 15.3% 69 0.8% 23 11.4%

VCL 36 6.8% 9 17.4% 25 11.3%

Leeds 21 12.2% 47 8.7% 26 11.1 %

Imperial 60 3.2% 4 19.9% 27 11.0%

In titute of Education 55 3.5% 2 22.8% 27 11.0%

Aberdeen 23 11.9% 50 8.1% 29 10.8%

LSE 58 3.4% 6 18.7% 30 10.5%

Oxford 53 3.8% 7 18.2% 31 10.2%Cardiff 17 13.7% 66 1.9% 31 10.2%

Wye 27 9.0% 28 11.1 % 33 9.8%Edinburgh 38 5.9% 10 17.0% 33 9.8%

ottingham 30 8.5% 26 11.6% 35 9.6%

Cambridge 65 2.7% 5 18.9% 35 9.6%

Average for Great Britain 8.5 % ••••••••••••••••• 11.70/0 ••••••.•••••••••••• 9.6%

(Continued...)

Fe allocation of recurrent grantsPercentage change in teaching and research resource 1991/92 and 1992/93

Universities % change % change % change

Rank T Rank Notional R Rank T+ otional R

Loughborough 22 12.1% 62 3.5% 37 9.5%

Brunei 16 13.8% 71 -3.0% 38 9.3%

UMIST 32 7.8% 31 10.6% 39 8.9%

Queen Mary 27 9.0% 43 8.9% 39 8.9%

Exeter 34 6.9% 25 11.7% 41 8.2%

Warwick 55 3.5% 10 17.0% 41 8.2%

Kent 31 8.0% 50 8.1% 43 8.0%

Bristol 47 4.0% 14 15.4% 43 8.0%

Hull 29 8.9% 60 4.3% 45 7.6%

SchoolofPhannacy 70 -0.7% 13 16.6% 45 7.6%

East Anglia 51 3.9% 16 14.5% 47 7.5%

Lancaster 39 5.3% 30 10.9% 48 7.1%

Surrey 40 5.2% 36 9.7% 49 6.7%

Goldsmiths 26 9.1% 70 -2.0% 49 6.7%

Sl.Andrew's 41 5.1% 35 10.0% 51 6.6%

York 63 2.9% 19 13.7% 52 6.5%

Birmingham 41 5.1% 40 9.2% 52 6.5%

Royal Free 67 2.1% 15 14.6% 52 6.5%

Manchester 43 4.8% 38 9.5% 55 6.4%

Sl.George's Hospital 44 4.7% 41 9.0% 56 6.3%

Reading 37 6.0% 53 6.8% 56 6.3%

King's College London 45 4.5% 49 8.6% 58 5.9%

Sheffield 54 3.6% 32 10.5% 59 5.8%

Bradford 34 6.9% 63 3.0% 59 5.8%

Southampton 60 3.2% 33 10.2% 61 5.6%

Aberystwyth 46 4.3% 45 8.8% 61 5.6%

United Medical 51 3.9% 52 7.9% 63 5.2%

Royal Veterinary 33 7.4% 67 1.3% 64 5.1%

St.Bart's 67 2.1% 33 10.2% 64 5.1%

Bath 62 3.0% 45 8.8% 66 4.8%

Char.Cross/West 55 3.5% 57 5.8% 67 4.3%

London Hospital 63 2.9% 54 6.7% 68 4.1%

UWCM 69 0.8% 43 8.9% 69 3.4%

Aston 66 2.5% 65 2.0% 70 2.4%

MBS 71 -2.5% 20 13.4% 71 2.2%

Fe lIocation of Recuurent Grants

Percentage change in teaching and reseasrch resource 1991/2 and 1992/3

London Colleges % change % change % change

Rank T Rank otional R Rank T+ otional R

SOAS 1 26.1% 15 8.7% 1 20.5%

London School of Hygiene 11 4.0% 2 22.6% 2 14.2%

Holloway/Bedford 2 16.6% 20 5.4% 3 13.5%

Birkbeck 3 14.5% 11 11.0% 4 13.3%

BPMF 11 4.0% 5 18.2% 5 13.1%

RoyalPG 11 4.0% 9 14.3% 6 12.0%

VCL 8 6.8% 6 17.4% 7 11.3%

Imperial 18 3.2% 3 19.9% 8 11.0%

Institute of Education 15 3.5% I 22.8% 8 11.0%

LSE 17 3.4% 4 18.7% 10 10.5%

Wye 5 9.0% 10 11.1% 11 9.8%

Average for London 6.1% • 13.7% • 9.1%

Queen Mary 5 9.0% 14 8.9% 12 8.9%

SchoolofPhannacy 22 -0.7% 7 16.6% 13 7.6%

Goldsmiths 4 9.1% 22 -2.0% 14 6.7%

Royal Free 20 2.1% 8 14.6% 15 6.5%

St.George's Hospital 9 4.7% 13 9.0% 16 6.3%

King's College London 10 4.5% 16 8.6% 17 5.9%

United Medical 14 3.9% 17 7.9% 18 5.2%

Royal Veterinary 7 7.4% 21 1.3% 19 5.1%

Sl.Bart's 20 2.1% 12 10.2% 19 5.1%

Char.Cross/West 15 3.5% 19 5.8% 21 4.3%

London Hospital 19 2.9% 18 6.7% 22 4.1%