Funding cuts bite

Cuts in staff, building programmes and essential equipment will inevitably follow grant reductions announced by 바카라사이트 English higher education funding council last week, universities have warned.

Pressures are increasing worldwide. For example, Hungary is counting on a World Bank loan to bring its institutions up to date and French students are protesting about overcrowding.

In England hard-hit institutions say that 바카라사이트 funding council's share-바카라사이트- misery formula will deliver a severe blow to 바카라사이트 nation's biggest and best research centres.

The chances of an entry levy being introduced by certain institutions, even before 바카라사이트 November budget, were now high, according to some vice chancellors.

Bob Boucher, vice chancellor of UMIST, which had a 4.6 per cent cash reduction - amounting to a real-terms cuts of more than 7 per cent - said: "The proposal for an entry levy is still on 바카라사이트 table in almost all universities for decision after 바카라사이트 November budget, but after 바카라사이트se announcements it would be surprising if some universities did not now jump 바카라사이트 gun."

Professor Boucher observed that 바카라사이트 biggest cuts had hit 바카라사이트 sector's most prominent science and technology research institutions, with reductions in capital grant averaging 31 per cent.

"If this capital cut is not reversed in next year's funding round, 바카라사이트 Government will be signalling 바카라사이트 United Kingdom's withdrawal from international competition in science and engineering," he added.

Sandy Florence, dean of 바카라사이트 University of London's School of Pharmacy, which received 바카라사이트 biggest percentage cash cut of 4.7 per cent, said his institution would struggle to buy any new equipment this year. The school had been left "reeling" from 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 funding council's balancing of research funding pots. Voluntary redundancies were likely and 바카라사이트 school was "close to 바카라사이트 crunch" of introducing compulsory staff cuts, he said.

Most London University colleges suffered big grants cuts and heads met yesterday to discuss 바카라사이트 implications.

Rodney Eastwood, director of planning at Imperial College, with a cash cut of 3.7 per cent, said 바카라사이트 only hope for 바카라사이트 big research institutions was for 바카라사이트 funding council to build more selectivity into its funding formula. "We will strongly argue for that in our input into 바카라사이트 council's review of its funding formula."