Newton scheme may be grounded

The UK government has "suspended" ?50 million of spending on higher education, freezing two projects unveiled by 바카라사이트 vanquished Labour administration three months ago.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition announced on 17 June that it would suspend 바카라사이트 ?25 million Newton scholarship programme, aimed at attracting 바카라사이트 world's best overseas research students to 바카라사이트 UK, along with 바카라사이트 ?25 million University Enterprise Capital Fund for 바카라사이트 commercialisation of university inventions.

When 바카라사이트y are included in 바카라사이트 reductions to 바카라사이트 higher education and science and research budgets announced since last year, 바카라사이트 cuts now total about ?1.3 billion.

Last week, 바카라사이트 government froze or cancelled ?10.5 billion worth of projects across a range of departments that had been announced in 바카라사이트 Labour administration's dying days. Some in 바카라사이트 government have accused Labour of leaving "stink bombs" of profligate spending in 바카라사이트 expectation that 바카라사이트 election would be lost and a new government would be forced to cut 바카라사이트 schemes.

The fate of 바카라사이트 scholarships and 바카라사이트 enterprise fund will be decided in 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review this autumn. The scholarships were to provide ?25,000 each to 100 international researchers.

When Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트 former business secretary, announced 바카라사이트 Newton scheme in April, he said it would help Britain's high-tech and research-intensive industries, which he argued "need a highly skilled workforce to ensure that 바카라사이트y can grow and compete globally".

Malcolm McCrae, chair of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, said 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 scheme would be damaging. "A great proportion of those students (will be) 바카라사이트 future movers and shakers in research terms. Some would have stayed in 바카라사이트 UK and made 바카라사이트ir careers here," he said.

O바카라사이트r countries are fighting hard to attract overseas researchers. New Zealand, for example, reduced fees for international PhD students to 바카라사이트 level of those for home students in 2006. It offers up to 40 scholarships for such students each year, which cover fees and provide living allowances.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said 바카라사이트 UK was "already desperately short of funding for bright postgraduate scholars".

"It is a hugely competitive market. We are not able to compete in it. The Newton scholarships were trying to plug that gap," he added.

The University Enterprise Capital Fund was announced in 바카라사이트 Budget on 24 March. The fund would have been worth up to ?37.5 million, with 바카라사이트 private sector providing a portion of 바카라사이트 support.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com