Archiving in the digital age — 08 April 2008

The digital revolution has fundamentally modified the way research is conducted, but also the way in which its results are circulated, reviewed, accessed and preserved. Libraries can no longer rely on stacking a print copy of a publication on one of their archive shelves. RAND Europe's report, Digital preservation: The uncertain future of saving the past, examines how research findings will be communicated in the future to help librarians and archivists preserve history.

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Sustainable digital preservation of scholarly publications — 05 November 2007

The digital revolution has fundamentally modified the way research is conducted, but also the way in which its results are circulated, reviewed, accessed and preserved. Libraries can no longer rely on stacking a print copy a publication on one of their archive shelfs. Hitherto established models of archiving and preservation of scholarly output need to be rethought. RAND Europe has examined the key determinants of the sustainable digital preservation of scholarly publications, with specific reference to developing a robust approach to the archiving of such records at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek in The Netherlands.

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RAND Europe evaluates EC's Scientific Committees in areas of consumer products, and health and environmental risks. — 31 January 2007

RAND Europe released its report conducted for the European Commission's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (SANCO). The report provides an interim evaluation of the procedures and functions of the three non-food Scientific Committees that provide the EC with scientific advice on existing and emerging issues related to consumer safety, and health and environmental risks.

RAND Europe's report concluded that the Scientific Committees are functioning adequately so far, and make substantial contributions to the evidence-base upon which related EC decision making relies. However, the evaluation identified practical recommendations, which could lead to improvements in the process of providing scientific advice and its implementation in SANCO policy making.

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Benchmarking of the use of personal advisers in Jobcentre Plus — 29 November 2006

The UK National Audit Office (NAO) commissioned RAND Europe to benchmark the deployment and management of personal advisers in three employment advice providers: Tomorrow's People, a non-governmental organisation in the United Kingdom; WorkDirections, a private sector provider in the United Kingdom; and the Centrum voor Werk en Inkomen (Centre for Work and Income), an independent government agency (Zelfstandig Bestuursorgaan) in the Netherlands. The main purpose of this study was to identify specific, transferable lessons that could lead to process improvements for Jobcentre Plus, the government employment advice office in the UK. Some of the main findings were : other employment advice providers focus more exclusively on employment advice than Jobcentre Plus; the cost per successful outcome (i.e. unemployed clients placed in employment) of Jobcentre Plus programmes is higher than that of other employment advice providers; and the initiatives of other providers to improve efficiency in the time use of advisers could offer valuable lessons for Jobcentre Plus.

Full DocumentNAO Report (www.nao.org.uk)

Assessing Indirect Impacts of the EC Proposals for Video Regulation — 20 September 2006

RAND Europe advised UK communications regulator, Ofcom, on the indirect impacts of European proposals for Internet video regulation on three multimedia sectors (computer games, mobile and Internet Protocol TV). The report assesses the effect of the proposed regulation on investment and market structure, including net neutrality and Web2.0 type services. RAND Europe concludes that the EC proposals require more definitional certainty to prevent unforeseen adverse consequences.

Full DocumentLearn MoreNews Release (www.ofcom.org.uk)

Europe must dare to be smarter: the creation of a European Institute of Technology — 15 February 2006

The pace of debate on the development of a European Institute of Technology (EIT) is quickening. The European Commission (EC) has proposed the creation of an EIT to rival the likes of America's California (Caltech) and Massachusetts (MIT) Institute of Technology. At the end of last year, the EC launched a consultation procedure to explore ways to take the idea forward. The Commission's findings are to be released next month.

Many interested parties have contributed their opinions to the public debate, including RAND Europe. Dr. Titus Galama and Drs Erik Frinking, researchers in the Leiden office of RAND Europe, have examined the essential requirements and features key to the success of the world's top universities. Based on this study the authors assess the options available to establish an EIT. Galama and Frinking have co-authored opinion pieces highlighting RAND Europe's findings and recommendations. They have appeared in the Dutch newspaper, "NRC Handelsblad" on 15 February and the "Financial Times" on 22 February. For more information, contact Dr. T. Galama (Galama@rand.org).

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Use of Evidence in Illegal Drug Classification — 03 March 2006

Four case studies examine the scientific, medical and social harms caused by illegal drugs, and the issues surrounding the types of evidence used in classifying them. The studies focus on drug policy making in the UK, with comparisons to the U.S., Netherlands, and Sweden.

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European Commission publishes a RAND Europe contribution to revision of audiovisual policy — 01 February 2006

RAND Europe assisted the European Commission with a contribution to the assessment of and extending the existing TV without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive. New technologies require adjustments to allow for more effective enforcement of the rules and to reduce unnecessary regulatory rigidities.

Recently released by the EC, the RAND Europe report analyses the future of broadcast video based on consideration of several regulatory options, ranging from deregulation to a mix of regulatory policies to full regulation of all commercial video offerings. RAND Europe researchers addressed the need to balance the benefits of Internal Market liberalisation with the impact of more stringent regulation on innovation and competition. They also considered the ability of governments to implement, monitor and enforce regulatory actions, and the assessment of associated costs.

The regulation under review covers a sector that is in continuous and rapid change, which introduces a high level of complexity and uncertainty. This dynamic context affects the ability to regulate and also influences the way impacts are assessed. The impact assessment focused in particular on the effects of the different policy options vis-à-vis the Lisbon objectives, and the agenda for Better Regulation. In December 2005, the Commission proposed a Directive to be debated and adopted or amended by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers.

Summary and Report (www.europa.eu.int)