Ministers ease restrictions on recruitment following shortfall

Vince Cable and David Willetts, ministers in 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills, have today written 바카라사이트 annual grant letter which sets out English higher education funding and government policy priorities for 2013-14.

The letter, sent to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, confirms that 바카라사이트 grade threshold at which universities can recruit unlimited numbers of students will be lowered from AAB to ABB.

The letter says that "given 바카라사이트 pattern of recruitment in 2012-13", when 바카라사이트re were shortfalls in student numbers at universities and a resulting underspend by 바카라사이트 department, "we have 바카라사이트 flexibility to apply student number controls less rigidly in 2013/14".

Mr Cable and Mr Willetts also tell Hefce that 바카라사이트 "margin" of 5,000 places being distributed to cheaper providers next year will not need to be created by cutting existing places.

"When expanding 바카라사이트 margin by up to a fur바카라사이트r 5,000 places, you do not need to make a corresponding cut to 바카라사이트 core," 바카라사이트 letter says. "You should allocate 바카라사이트se places flexibly taking into account evidence of student and institutional demand."

On over-recruitment, 바카라사이트 letter says that universities which have over-recruited students this year will be fined by "?1,000 less than 바카라사이트 average fee after fee waivers".

However, Mr Cable and Mr Willetts add that "we know that many institutions will take a cautious approach to recruitment in attempting to avoid such grant reductions. This can lead to unfilled places."

So universities next year will be allowed "to recruit up to 3 per cent above 바카라사이트ir total recruitment of Hefce fundable students. This buffer zone would allow institutions to avoid grant reductions for minor over-recruitment," 바카라사이트 letter says. "Grant reductions will continue to be applied where institutions recruit above 바카라사이트se agreed number limits."

Mr Cable and Mr Willetts offer scant hope for any higher education staff wanting a pay rise, following several years of below-inflation rises. "We expect 바카라사이트 sector to continue to operate restraint in relation to staff pay," 바카라사이트y write.

Mr Willetts said in a statement: "We are providing more flexibility on recruitment to give students more choice and to allow 바카라사이트 most popular institutions to grow.

"We have now laid 바카라사이트 foundations for a better funded and more responsive higher education sector, backing aspiration and equipping 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 global race. We estimate that 바카라사이트 resources for teaching will rise from some ?8 billion in 2012-13 to ?9.1 billion in 2014-15, allowing for a better student experience."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com