RESEARCH activity is blossoming at Bolton Institute. The proof is in the results of the national four-yearly Research Assessment Exercise covering all higher education bodies in the UK. Bolton Institute has scored "hits" in eight out of 10 projects submitted, compared with two out of 14 when the Exercise was last carried out four years ago.

The academic assessors looked at projects in the fields of psychology, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, business and management, English literature, history and philosophy - and classed them as "areas of research strength." Textiles at Bolton won a higher rating by being classed as a "Centre of Research Excellence." Professor Richard Horrocks, Dean of the Faculty of Technology at the Institute, said: "This puts textile research at Bolton close to that at Leeds University and UMIST, the big league players in the textiles category."

Institute researchers are now waiting to learn how the improved ratings will affect funding for research at Bolton from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Professor Horrocks said the results were pleasing. "Relative to other institutions, Bolton has not only held its own, but has shown a greater improvement than many," he said.

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