A review of the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) has made recommendations to ensure that it is not disproportionately burdensome and meets data needs.
The review, undertaken by KPMG, identified:
- areas where burden could be reduced, such as removing some TRAC requirements and guidance related to research proposals where there is duplication with funder-specific guidance
- where we could make better use of data
- the need to better communicate the purpose, importance and needs of TRAC and consider how this might evolve in the future.
KPMG were commissioned to carry out the review by the UK Higher Education Regulators and Funders (Financial Sustainability) Group (RFG). This was in response to the government’s request as part of a wider review of bureaucratic burden.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a member of the RFG alongside the Office for Students (OfS) and the higher education funding bodies for:
- Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland.
Following the review, the RFG will work to deliver improvements.
Read the review on the OfS website.
Read the RFG statement in response (PDF, 96KB).
Top image: Credit: UK Research and Innovation