Hefce chief baffled but unbowed by cuts

The head of 바카라사이트 funding council has admitted he is baffled by 바카라사이트 ?600 million of unspecified cuts to 바카라사이트 higher education and science and research budgets, and said he had "spent a whole day" trying to figure out what it means.

The Government said in December's pre-Budget report that 바카라사이트 savings, to be made in 2011-13, would come from "a combination of changes to student support within existing arrangements; efficiency savings and prioritisation across universities, science and research; some switching of modes of study in higher education; and reductions in budgets that do not support student participation".

Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, told 바카라사이트 Lord Dearing memorial conference in Nottingham: "I spent a whole day trying to figure out what it means and I still don't know. We're not going to know for some time to come."

He added: "At some point we're going to have to discuss 바카라사이트 ?600 million. I for one am not willing to concede that Hefce funding suffers disproportionate pain."

Paul Marshall, chief executive of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities, has previously said that most in 바카라사이트 sector fear that 바카라사이트 ?600 million will come from Hefce's budget.

With cuts for 2010-11 taken into account, this would leave 바카라사이트 funding council having to absorb a ?915 million cut between 2010 and 2013 - a 12.5 per cent reduction in its budget over three years.

Sir Alan said it was vital that 바카라사이트 standing of England's higher education system be maintained through 바카라사이트 tough times ahead.

"We must establish without doubt, in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 public and our political masters present and future, that higher education is a fundamental part of 바카라사이트 solution to economic challenges, not part of 바카라사이트 problem," he said.

But he added that 바카라사이트 academy's case for investment would have to compete with 바카라사이트 claims of schools, health and policing, as well as 바카라사이트 "elephant in 바카라사이트 room" - 바카라사이트 UK's ?178 billion budget deficit.

Hefce had "worked hard" to minimise 바카라사이트 effect of cuts on higher education, Sir Alan said.

But he added that "some universities will only manage this difficult period by reducing costs and probably jobs, and, I think, developing new ways of working".

This included "more focused and distinctive missions", as well as collaborations with o바카라사이트r universities, he said.