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Yes, it is not necessary to do research to be a fairly good and dedicated teacher (although it is hard to be an excellent teacher without an inside knowledge of research), and assiduous resear-chers sometimes have limited time and energy for teaching in a research-intensive environment ("Research value in doubt", THES, April 4). But for many of us, the raison d'etre of working in a university is that it is the only place which employs people to undertake advanced research that is not purely for profit. If we wanted to be teachers, we would work in the secondary school system, where at least you can take proper holidays.

PHILIP G. CERNY Professor of internationalpolitical economy, University of Leeds