Economic and Social Research Council
Encyclopedia
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is one of the seven Research Council
s in the United Kingdom
. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social
and economic
issues, such as postgraduate degrees.
, which is also the location of the head offices of several other UK Research Councils and RCUK.
in the United States). The establishment of a state funding body
for the social sciences in the United Kingdom, had been under discussion since the Second World War
; however, it was not until the 1964 election of Prime Minister Harold Wilson
that the political climate for the creation of the SSRC became sufficiently favourable.
The first chief executive of the SSRC was Michael Young (later Baron Young of Dartington). Subsequent holders of the post have included Michael Posner
, later Secretary General of the European Science Foundation
. The current Chief Executive of the ESRC is Professor Paul Boyle, appointed from 1 August 2010.
in the 1979 general election, the Government expressed reservations about the value of research in the social sciences, and the extent to which it should be publicly funded. In 1981, the Education Secretary Sir Keith Joseph
asked Lord Rothschild
to lead a review into the future of the SSRC.
It was ultimately decided (due in no small part to the efforts of Michael Posner, chief executive of the SSRC at the time) that the Council should remain, but that its remit should be expanded beyond the social sciences, to include more 'empirical' research and research of 'more public concern'. To reflect this, in 1983 the SSRC was renamed the Economic and Social Research Council.
Research Council
The UK Research Councils, of which there are currently seven, are publicly-funded agencies responsible for co-ordinating and funding particular areas of research, including the arts, humanities, all areas of science and engineering...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
and economic
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
issues, such as postgraduate degrees.
Structure
The ESRC is based at Polaris House in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, which is also the location of the head offices of several other UK Research Councils and RCUK.
The mission of the ESRC
The ESRC's mission, according to its website, is to:- promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training in the social sciences;
- advance knowledge and provide trained social scientists who meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and the quality of life;
- provide advice on, and disseminate, knowledge; and promote public understanding of the social sciences.
Brief history
The ESRC was founded in 1965 as the Social Science Research Council (SSRC - not to be confused with the Social Science Research CouncilSocial Science Research Council
The Social Science Research Council is a U.S.-based independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines...
in the United States). The establishment of a state funding body
Funding body
A funding body is an organisation that provides research funding in the form of research grants or scholarships. These include:* Arts councils* Research councils for the funding of science....
for the social sciences in the United Kingdom, had been under discussion since the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; however, it was not until the 1964 election of Prime Minister Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
that the political climate for the creation of the SSRC became sufficiently favourable.
The first chief executive of the SSRC was Michael Young (later Baron Young of Dartington). Subsequent holders of the post have included Michael Posner
Michael Posner (economist)
Michael Vivian Posner was a University of Cambridge economics lecturer turned government adviser who later worked to safeguard social science research in the United Kingdom....
, later Secretary General of the European Science Foundation
European Science Foundation
The European Science Foundation is an association of 78 member organisations devoted to scientific research in 30 European countries. It is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that facilitates cooperation and collaboration in European research and development, European...
. The current Chief Executive of the ESRC is Professor Paul Boyle, appointed from 1 August 2010.
Change of name
Following the election of Prime Minister Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
in the 1979 general election, the Government expressed reservations about the value of research in the social sciences, and the extent to which it should be publicly funded. In 1981, the Education Secretary Sir Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
asked Lord Rothschild
Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild
Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild, GBE, GM, FRS was a biologist by training, a cricketer and a member of the prominent Rothschild family...
to lead a review into the future of the SSRC.
It was ultimately decided (due in no small part to the efforts of Michael Posner, chief executive of the SSRC at the time) that the Council should remain, but that its remit should be expanded beyond the social sciences, to include more 'empirical' research and research of 'more public concern'. To reflect this, in 1983 the SSRC was renamed the Economic and Social Research Council.
Governance and management
The ESRC is managed by the ESRC Council, which consists of the Chair (Allan Gillespie), Chief Executive (Professor Paul Boyle) and representatives from academia, government and industry. The Council approves the ESRC's policies, strategy, budgets and major funding.Committee structure
The ESRC is also guided by five committees and two cross-cutting networks:- Training and Skills Committee - oversees policy for training and skills development, including awards (or studentships) for postgraduate students
- Research Committee - responsible for overseeing setting policy for ESRC's research funding and investments
- Methods and Infrastructure Committee - responsible for overseeing setting policy for data services, surveys, research methods and information environment
- Audit Committee - responsible for ensuring the overall effectiveness of systems of internal control across ESRC
- Evaluation Committee - responsible for advising Council on the successful achievement of its corporate strategy through a combination of evaluation of policy, and research centres, programmes and projects
- International network - connects the work of council and the committees with regard to ESRC's international agenda
- Impact network - connects the work of council and the committees with regard to measuring and promoting the societal impacts of ESRC's work