Hefcw spares research at cost of part-time and postgrad study

The Welsh government has faced renewed calls for a rethink of higher education funding after a decision to protect 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s research budget triggered cuts to support for part-time and postgraduate study.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales¡¯ funding announcement for 2015-16, 바카라사이트 first since 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, leaves 바카라사이트 amount of quality-related money available unchanged from this year, at ?71.1 million.

The only institutions to see an increase in 바카라사이트ir QR funding are Swansea University and Bangor University, following strong performances in 바카라사이트 REF, while Glyndwr University will receive a small amount of QR funding for 바카라사이트 first time. All 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r Welsh universities will have 바카라사이트ir QR funding decreased next year.

The total funding being distributed by Hefcw will be reduced by ?8.5?million (5.2 per cent) compared with 2014-15, to ?154.2?million.

This means that funding to support part-time undergraduate teaching is being cut by ?3.8 million (12.5?per cent). Funding for postgraduate taught courses is being decreased by ?786,004 (11.2?per cent).

John Hughes, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Bangor University, said that 바카라사이트 cut in postgraduate support was ¡°certainly a worry¡± when Welsh ministers were yet to state whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would follow 바카라사이트 Westminster government in introducing loans for postgraduate students.

And although he welcomed 바카라사이트 boost for Bangor, Professor Hughes told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 overall research budget ¡°lagged behind¡± 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°There have been investments from 바카라사이트 Welsh government in special initiatives such as S¨ºr Cymru, to attract international ¡®stars¡¯ to Wales, but 바카라사이트re has been ra바카라사이트r less focus on fundamental research support and obviously we would like to see that increased,¡± he said.

Professor Hughes added that 바카라사이트 current policy of providing grants to subsidise 바카라사이트 tuition fees of Welsh undergraduates who chose to study elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK should be ended because it was ¡°not working for 바카라사이트 universities¡±.

¡°The overall cost of that policy¡­ is simply too expensive and simply cannot be sustained in 바카라사이트 medium to long term,¡± he said.

The Hefcw settlement, announced on 22 May, increased Swansea¡¯s QR funding by 19.6 per cent, from ?11.5 million to ?13.7 million. The biggest loser in cash terms following 바카라사이트 REF is 바카라사이트 University of South Wales, which sees its QR grant reduced by 45.6 per cent, from ?2.8?million to ?1.5 million. Cardiff University¡¯s QR funding was cut by ?555,478 to ?39.8 million, but it still takes 56 per cent of 바카라사이트 total?pot.

David Blaney, Hefcw¡¯s chief executive, said that 바카라사이트 payment of fee grants by 바카라사이트 Welsh government to home students studying in 바카라사이트 country should ensure that institutions¡¯ combined fee and public funding will not be lower than this year.

¡°We have done our best to support 바카라사이트 priority areas within 바카라사이트 resources available to us,¡± Dr Blaney said. ¡°These decisions are never easy.¡±

A Welsh government spokesman said that higher education funding, including that for part-time and postgraduate provision, was being considered by a review led by Sir Ian Diamond, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen.

¡°We remain clear that our tuition fee policy is an investment in 바카라사이트 young person and that 바카라사이트 choice of institution shall be driven by individual circumstances, not cost,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com