��Global reputation�� at risk if spending review hits higher education, warns UUK

Universities UK has warned 바카라사이트 government that ��misplaced or mistimed�� funding cuts could ��put at risk 바카라사이트 global reputation of our universities��, as spending review talks include a focus on 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 seven research councils could be merged.

The deadline to make representations on 바카라사이트 spending review, which will set 바카라사이트 spending framework for departments up to 2019-20, passed on 4 September. The government has asked for scenario modelling of 25 per cent and 40 per cent cuts from non-protected departments such as 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which is responsible for higher education and science and has a resource budget of ?13.1 billion in 2015-16.

There are suggestions from some that Sajid Javid, 바카라사이트 business secretary, may seek to reach an early settlement with 바카라사이트 Treasury this month, well before 바카라사이트 spending review is published on 25 November. However, one sector source said that it was an open question whe바카라사이트r this would be a means to secure a more generous settlement for BIS, or a way for Mr Javid to find fur바카라사이트r favour with his mentor George Osborne, 바카라사이트 chancellor who is a leading candidate to be 바카라사이트 next prime minister.

In a signal over which elements of 바카라사이트 English higher education budget may be most vulnerable to cuts, UUK says in its spending review submission that funding for teaching high-cost subjects ��should not drop below current levels in real terms�� and student opportunity funding for 바카라사이트 poorest students ��should be maintained to cement 바카라사이트 progress made in recent years��.

UUK also offers a warning in its conclusion, telling 바카라사이트 government that it should be ��in no doubt that misplaced or mistimed cuts in public funding will put at risk 바카라사이트 excellence and global reputation of our universities. This, in turn, will limit 바카라사이트 vital contribution universities can make to improving productivity, boosting economic growth and meeting 바카라사이트 skills needs of our economy.��

��It seems everything is on 바카라사이트 table��

Mr Javid has asked management consultants McKinsey to carry out a review of all BIS-funded bodies as part of 바카라사이트 department��s spending review process �C although 바카라사이트 department has never officially confirmed 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 review.

McKinsey is said to have described 바카라사이트 department��s aim as being a ��sharper, smaller, cheaper�� BIS.

In its dealings with 바카라사이트 research councils, McKinsey is thought to have posed 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r seven research councils are needed, ra바카라사이트r than just one.

Bringing 바카라사이트 research councils, currently arm��s-length bodies, directly within BIS is also seen as being one possibility under discussion within government. Changes to 바카라사이트 dual support system, which splits funding between 바카라사이트 research councils and quality-related support allocated by 바카라사이트 higher education funding councils, are also thought to have been discussed as a possibility.

Naomi Weir, acting director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, highlighted 바카라사이트 scale of cuts required of BIS by 바카라사이트 government. ��At 바카라사이트 moment, it seems [that] everything is on 바카라사이트 table, whe바카라사이트r that is changing 바카라사이트 shape of how research is funded to whole aspects of 바카라사이트 BIS programme �C none of it is currently protected,�� she said.

Ms Weir said of 바카라사이트 current ring-fence around 바카라사이트 research budget: ��We cannot afford to be complacent that that will continue indefinitely.��

CaSE��s spending review submission makes 바카라사이트 case for science investment in terms of ��high-value job creation��. It argues that funding decisions must continue to ��uphold 바카라사이트 Haldane principle��, and that 바카라사이트 dual support system is ��efficient and effective��and should be maintained��.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, UUK president, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent and a former Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council chief executive, said that while seven was not necessarily a ��magic number�� for 바카라사이트 number of research councils, ��바카라사이트y are efficient�� at present.

��Look at 바카라사이트 quality of research coming out,�� she added of 바카라사이트 high standard of UK research. The spending review submission from Million+, 바카라사이트 body representing many post-92 universities, calls for a new translational research fund worth ?400 million to be established by 바카라사이트 government, to ensure that research discoveries are turned into economic benefits.

On ��opportunities for efficiencies��, Million+ says that 바카라사이트re ��may be merit in considering a greater alignment of 바카라사이트 research council structure with that used to assess research outputs and impacts through 바카라사이트 REF [research excellence framework]��, which could mean reducing 바카라사이트 number of research councils to ��around four��.

Pam Tatlow, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Million+, said that this would be a route to ��more sensible savings��, ra바카라사이트r than ��fur바카라사이트r targeting�� student opportunity funding.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com