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This chapter discusses the emergence of new partners and alliances of the AHRB. In 2000, Brian Follet was appointed as the Chairman of the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB). As the appointed Chairman, Follet made a commitment to create new partners and allies of AHRB. Its ultimate goal was to bring together all areas which systematically create and shape knowledge or a ‘Wissenschaft’. During 2000–2001, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) led by Cambridge historian Emma Rothschild considered what bearing the arts and humanities might have on the strategies of sciences. In July 2001, the CST presented a report to the Prime Minister and other government leaders. This report, Imagination and Understanding: A Report on the Arts and Humanities in relation to Science and Technology found out that arts and humanities are an outstanding part of UK research, contributing in several ways to the nation's prosperity and well-being. In February 2001, the CST formed the first Quinquennial Review and in December 2001, the Quinquennial Review recommended the creation of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Strategy Group which required Research Councils to work in partnership with other Councils including stakeholders. With this new policy, the AHRB worked and forged partnerships with Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Foundation for Science and Technology (FST), European Science Foundation (ESF).

This chapter discusses the existence of support for the AHRB during its struggle for recognition and acceptance. In January 22, 2003, the White Paper on the Future of Higher Education created uproar. This furore over the White Paper was due to concerns over the government's proposal to allow universities to raise fees and to provide deferred loans by which the students might meet those charges. The uproar was also heightened by the government's declared intention to concentrate on research funding. Amidst the din over the AHRB's establishment and the government's intention of giving research funds to research councils, the AHRB found immense support from various groups. Iain Gray, Scotland's Minister For Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, expressed support for the creation of the AHRB. The same warm response to the White Paper and to the prospect of the creation of the AHRB was also expressed by the RCUK Strategy Group which emphasized the importance of arts and humanities as equal to those of engineering, science, and technology. The same response was also accorded by the House of Commons. In addition to the positive responses to the proposal of creating a humanities research council, UK government and political officials were beginning to include the White Paper recommendations into their debates. By mid-summer, widespread support for the AHRB was garnered and on January 27 2004, a second reading of the Higher Education Bill approved the creation of the Arts and Humanities Research Council.