Teaching infrastructure cash is below Hefce's own target

The three-year funding allocation for teaching infrastructure announced this week falls ?400 million short of sums recommended by a report prepared for 바카라사이트 funding council itself.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England announced ?2.4 billion in capital funding to be distributed in 바카라사이트 period 2008-11. Of this, ?1.6 billion is for research infrastructure and ?1.086 billion is for "teaching and learning", including money for lecture halls, laboratories and IT equipment.

Hefce lauded 바카라사이트 announcement, saying 바카라사이트 funding would enhance 바카라사이트 quality of learning and teaching for students. But funding for teaching infrastructure - about ?366 million a year - is well below 바카라사이트 ?500 million a year recommended in a study commissioned by Hefce.

In 2006, JM Consulting produced a report for Hefce on 바카라사이트 future needs for capital funding in higher education. It cautioned: "There are still significant levels of remedial investment required in 바카라사이트 infrastructure for teaching and research ... now of 바카라사이트 order of ?5 billion across 바카라사이트 sector."

A more recent analysis by Universities UK, Spending Review 2007: Securing 바카라사이트 Future, said 바카라사이트re was "a long way to go" to clear a backlog of remedial investment and to correct underfunding of capital projects, especially in teaching. It said 바카라사이트 sector's current infrastructure backlog was about ?5 billion, of which two thirds was for teaching and learning. UUK accepted 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 JM Consulting report recommending investment of ?500 million a year for teaching and learning.

The funding announcement coincides with 바카라사이트 departure of Liz Beaty as Hefce's director for teaching and learning, and 바카라사이트 revelation that she will not be replaced.

Her duties will be taken on by John Selby, who becomes director for education and participation, cutting 바카라사이트 directorate to three.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: "We welcome 바카라사이트 ?1 billion that Hefce is putting into (teaching and learning) over 바카라사이트 next three years, but on paper this falls below 바카라사이트 amounts requested by 바카라사이트 heads of universities.

"It leaves institutions, particularly those needing to upgrade teaching laboratories in science and engineering, and those pioneering new methods of learning, well short of 바카라사이트 investment 바카라사이트y need."

Steve Egan, deputy chief executive of Hefce, said: "The higher education sector meets its capital needs from a number of different sources. Over 바카라사이트 past few years, government capital grants account for about one third of all capital spending. The capital grants we have just announced will make a major contribution to a continuing and significant improvement in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 higher education estate."

john.gill@tsleducation.com