18 March 2010
Funding ‘uncertainty’ is a problem for universities and students
Commenting on today’s grant allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of the university think tank million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said: “The funding council has clearly tried to ensure that the impact of reductions in the higher education budget are moderated in 2010/11. However, the cut in capital funding for teaching will cause long-term problems and the drive to concentrate research funding will undermine innovation in those universities which have historically received less money but have more than proved their worth in promoting world-leading research.
“For universities this is a phoney war because this funding settlement could be completely blown out of the water if there is a second budget after the General Election which makes further cuts to higher education.
“This uncertainty is not only a problem for universities. Applications are running at record levels yet the funding council has made it clear that universities will have funding clawed back if they have over-recruited in 2009. As a result, many institutions, especially those with a focus on widening participation, could be permanently reduced in sized. Coupled with the funding council’s intention to operate a student number control in 2010, this is a double-whammy for many who hope to go to university this year. It cannot be right that the students of tomorrow have their chances of going to university dashed on the back of a crisis made by bankers.
“All political parties now need to make clear whether there will be further cuts in higher education funding after the election and all parties need to come forward with credible proposals to fund additional student numbers. If universities are to be squeezed even more, this would paint a much grimmer picture for students and universities than the one that we have today.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
- For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Victoria Mills on 07900 277819