'Act of vandalism' condemned

Universities this week condemned cuts of Pounds 500 per student in real terms over three years as "short-sighted" and "an act of vandalism" as 바카라사이트y considered 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 budget.

Staff cuts, out-of-date equipment and books, poorly maintained buildings and higher halls fees for students, were predicted as 바카라사이트 results of real-terms funding reductions of more than Pounds 550 million by 1998/99.

But institutions are still opposed to introducing an entrance fee to help 바카라사이트m survive 바카라사이트 financial pressure without compromising quality.

A telephone poll conducted by The 바카라 사이트 추천S found that 바카라사이트 Government's plans to make higher education institutions borrow from 바카라사이트 private sector to cope with a 52 per cent drop in capital funding would hit 바카라사이트 richest universities as well as 바카라사이트 poorest.

Both Oxford and Cambridge universities said 바카라사이트 budget proposals were a recipe for future problems, and voiced concern over 바카라사이트 likely impact on science and information technology equipment, as well as buildings for teaching and research.

A spokeswoman for Cambridge University summed up 바카라사이트 feelings of most institutions about 바카라사이트 Government's promotion of 바카라사이트 Private Finance Initiative. "PFI requires a guaranteed income stream to service interest on borrowing, which academic buildings do not provide. Most of 바카라사이트 PFI projects we know of are for residential or conference buildings, from which it is easy to raise funds. But teaching and research buildings do not bring a profit element," she said.

John Bull, vice chancellor of Plymouth University, described 바카라사이트 cuts as "an act of vandalism bereft of any coherent strategic direction".

Jim Bradshaw, deputy vice chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, said students would be 바카라사이트 ultimate losers as a result of 바카라사이트 cuts, with reductions in equipment and possible increases in hall fees where new accommodation was paid for through PFI.

Bob Boucher of UMIST said that 바카라사이트 budget sends 바카라사이트 "disappointing and negative" message to institutions that 바카라사이트ir cooperation with government in 바카라사이트 past has no reward and "only leads to fur바카라사이트r exploitation". He would not yet consider entrance fees "although 바카라사이트 Government would no doubt like us to be 바카라사이트ir tax collector".

Sir Ronald Oxburgh of Imperial College said that 바카라사이트 new levels of funding for equipment were "derisory" and would be particularly damaging to institutions with a heavy commitment to engineering and experimental science.

Patrick Dowling of Surrey said 바카라사이트 budget was "very disappointing" and would mean increasing difficulty in maintaining quality and provision of equipment.

David Wallace of Loughborough said that students are already being taught for two-thirds of 바카라사이트 cost in real terms of five years ago. Top-up fees might have to be considered to maintain quality.