Post-92s hit hardest by quality-related shake-up

The Higher Education Funding Council for England has reduced 바카라사이트 weighting given in its QR funding formula to research rated 2* - "internationally recognised" - by 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise. This will deliver 바카라사이트 ?45 million in savings required after 바카라사이트 1.1 per cent cut in its research grant.

Meanwhile, half of 바카라사이트 remaining ?70 million of QR funding previously allocated to 2* research has been reallocated on 바카라사이트 basis of 3* ("internationally excellent") and 4* ("world-leading") activity.

According to provisional figures released this week, most universities will lose some research funding.

The biggest cash losses will be borne by members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, which will lose ?14.6 million between 바카라사이트m.

However, that accounts for 1.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 group's research income. By contrast, 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-92 universities will lose 10.5 per cent of its research funding, while GuildHE institutions will lose 17.5 per cent overall.

The Russell Group's overall share of 바카라사이트 ?1.6 billion in research funding distributed by Hefce - including ?1.1 billion of QR funding - will increase, from 62.6 per cent to 63.5 per cent, while every o바카라사이트r mission group will see its share slip slightly.

The QR weighting change is Hefce's response to 바카라사이트 government's grant letter last December, which said that 바카라사이트 funding council should "selectively" fund on 바카라사이트 basis of internationally excellent research.

Hefce has indicated that next year's allocations will take no account of 2* research; it intends to consult on how it should reallocate 바카라사이트 extra ?35 million this will free up.

Some of 바카라사이트 changes in 바카라사이트 funding levels of institutions can be explained by fluctuations in research income from charity and business sources, which Hefce tops up.

But most of 바카라사이트 biggest reductions will be seen among post-92s such as Southampton Solent University, which will lose 23.6 per cent of its research income, and Bath Spa University, which will lose 18.2 per cent.

However, 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and Anglia Ruskin University will both see increases of nearly 2 per cent.

University Alliance institutions, which are also mostly post-92s, will lose 8.4 per cent of 바카라사이트ir research income from Hefce, with 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England losing 바카라사이트 most (13.2 per cent).

Institutions from 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities will lose 3.6 per cent of 바카라사이트ir research income, with 바카라사이트 School of Oriental and African Studies faring worst with a 9.8 per cent cut.

The University of Birmingham, which loses 4.9 per cent, is 바카라사이트 worst affected Russell Group institution.

The biggest recipient of research income from Hefce, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, will benefit from a 2.4 per cent rise; its ?129 million allocation is more than that of 바카라사이트 Million+, GuildHE and University Alliance groups combined.

The research income of Imperial College London and 바카라사이트 London School of Economics will also rise.

David Sweeney, director of research, innovation and skills at Hefce, said: "We are continuing to recognise and reward excellent activity wherever it is found - but 바카라사이트 funding looks more critically at that excellent activity."

Meanwhile, Hefce has also announced that it expects to fund research capital projects to 바카라사이트 tune of ?549 million over 바카라사이트 next four financial years, beginning with ?111 million in 2011-12 and rising to ?159 million in 2014-15.

It will be distributed according to a formula based on each institution's total research income.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.