51³Ô¹Ï

It is astonishing that the research assessment exercise panel for French "could not think of anyone" to represent users on the panel ("Subject panels in need of 'users' to get funding", THES, October 8).

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and multinational companies immediately spring to mind.

However, no panel seems to include the ultimate users, those to whom research ought to be most specifically directed - students.

Janet Fraser Senior lecturer in translation University of Westminster