51³Ô¹Ï

Paul Taylor's belief that "research demonstrates the subject expertise one would hope essential" in higher education is touchingly quaint (Letters, THES , August 1).

Neither Quality Assurance Agency nor research assessment exercise assessors seem to care whether all staff indulge in research or not. Clearly active research is not a necessary measure of expertise. How about asking when was the last time staff received support to attend a conference?

Andrew Joseph
Northallerton