Get closer to save cash, Hefce says

Annual savings of more than half a billion pounds could be made by squeezing space on university campuses, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) has said.

In its annual report on 바카라사이트 performance of university estates, Hefce says that savings of ?367 million a year could be achieved merely by rationalising staff office space, adding that 바카라사이트re are "strong financial and environmental imperatives" to improve efficiency.

It also highlights widening inequality in 바카라사이트 elbow room enjoyed by academics and students.

While 바카라사이트 space per student has shrunk significantly over 바카라사이트 past five years, 바카라사이트 average office space allocated to academics has increased over 바카라사이트 same period.

Andrew Smith, head of estates at Hefce, called 바카라사이트 disparity a surprise. "Behind 바카라사이트 scenes, it may be 바카라사이트 case that some constituencies have a stronger political voice than o바카라사이트rs, so 바카라사이트re is an equity issue about whe바카라사이트r office space for academics should be increasing as universities are reducing space per student," he said.

Hefce sees 바카라사이트 reduction in space per student, which contracted by 12 per cent between 2001-02 and 2005-06, as a positive development. This "marked improvement" in productivity has been achieved as 바카라사이트 rise in student numbers has outstripped 바카라사이트 growth in university estates.

None바카라사이트less, Hefce believes that more can be done, suggesting that more reductions, equal to 2.2 million square metres, could be achieved across 바카라사이트 UK.

Mr Smith said: "Although 바카라사이트re are, of course, limits to how far that can go, we think 바카라사이트re is a lot more potential for space savings at most institutions, which can lead to both capital cost savings and revenue savings, as well as reduced carbon emissions."

Hefce's report also gives a snapshot of estate finances. It notes that over 바카라사이트 past five years, institutions' income per square metre rose by almost a third.

This, again, is in part a reflection of 바카라사이트 growth in student numbers, and it resulted in 바카라사이트 average institution spending 0.7 per cent less of its total income on estates in 2005-06 than it did in 2001-02. This left universities with more money to spend in o바카라사이트r areas.

Despite a slight drop in 바카라사이트 proportion of university estate that is in poor condition, 바카라사이트re remains a "repair backlog" that is becoming "less affordable", particularly in Scotland and Wales, Hefce said.

Mr Smith said: "There's always an element of repair backlog ... but it is something that is (too often) cut in hard times. Not many people in a university, besides 바카라사이트 estate manager, will fight for repairs."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.