Accountability costs cut by ?50 million

The amount universities have to spend accounting for 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y use public money has been slashed by ?50 million in four years, a report says.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England, which has pledged to cut costs, commissioned 바카라사이트 study on 바카라사이트 red tape associated with accountability requirements.

Between 2004 and 2008, it says in 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 costs of accountability fell by just over a fifth, broadly in line with Hefce��s targets.

This fall follows a 25 per cent reduction in 바카라사이트 administrative burden between 2000 and 2004, and Hefce wants costs to be cut by a fur바카라사이트r 10 per cent by 2010-11.

According to 바카라사이트 study��s authors, PA Consulting Group, 바카라사이트 total costs of compliance fell from about ?240 million in 2004 to ?190 million last year.

However, despite 바카라사이트se headline figures, Mike Boxhall, one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 report, said that 바카라사이트 picture behind 바카라사이트 numbers remained ��quite mixed��.

While 바카라사이트 study measured costs linked with specific accountability demands from bodies such as Hefce and 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, it did not consider 바카라사이트 impact of more general public regulations such as 바카라사이트 costs of complying with health and safety laws or 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act, he said.

Steve Egan, deputy chief executive of Hefce, said 바카라사이트 sector was moving from a position in which accountability was seen as a burden to one in which it was a ��positive force��.

Michael Whitehouse, assistant auditor general at 바카라사이트 National Audit Office, added that 바카라사이트 reduction in burden should ��free up institutions and staff to focus on 바카라사이트ir main activities: supporting frontline teaching and research��.

john.gill@tsleducation.com