Birmingham to 'rebalance' ?20m to cope with cuts

The University of Birmingham is planning a ?20 million shake-up of its spending strategy as part of a proposal to cope with cuts in government funding.

The rejigging of 바카라사이트 university's priorities is likely to be of wider interest within 바카라사이트 sector as it has been masterminded by David Eastwood, Birmingham's vice-chancellor and 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The university's executive board has approved plans for investment in research in a series of areas, including globally significant infectious diseases and nuclear energy.

Professor Eastwood said he expected 바카라사이트 2010-15 strategic framework to have an impact on 바카라사이트 university's standing, as well as its finances. "I would expect 바카라사이트 university to be, if you like, 바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트 rest," he said.

"If you say Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and University College London will be difficult to shift, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 next places are up for grabs. We expect to be up 바카라사이트re."

Professor Eastwood joined Birmingham in April 2009 after leading Hefce for two and a half years.

This experience should have given him an overview of 바카라사이트 sector's strengths and weaknesses as it enters a period of tighter public spending.

The university's annual report says its new strategy will "link our investment decisions to our intention to attract outstanding staff and students, increase our research funding and deliver an excellent educational experience".

Professor Eastwood added that 바카라사이트 strategy would "rebalance 바카라사이트 university's finances by some ?20 million to take account of funding reductions we're planning for", and focus 바카라사이트 budget on "parts of 바카라사이트 university that are outstanding".

"We took 바카라사이트 decision we would save ?10 million and earn ?10 million," he said. "So as part of 바카라사이트 process of saving ?10 million, we will address underperformance of 바카라사이트 university in some areas."

The university plans to increase its income through postgraduate recruitment and increased research grant income. The savings equate to a reduction of 200 posts over three years, but with ano바카라사이트r 100 posts created.

The university's estate has been earmarked for major changes, with a new ?16 million, 450-seat auditorium completing 바카라사이트 semicircular Aston Webb building conceived by Joseph Chamberlain, 바카라사이트 Birmingham mayor and MP who was 바카라사이트 university's first chancellor.

A section of 바카라사이트 red-brick building was never built, but now ?5 million in gifts and pledges will help fill 바카라사이트 gap with 바카라사이트 new auditorium, finally completing a strategy from 바카라사이트 university's past.

It will be called 바카라사이트 Bramall Music building in honour of a "transformational" donation from 바카라사이트 Liz and Terry Bramall Charitable Trust - Terry being a Birmingham alumnus.

Among 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r areas set to benefit from investment are a "heritage and cultural learning hub", biomedical research, "urban living", and stem cell and ageing research.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.