Cambridge plans postgraduate growth to counter financial worries

The University of Cambridge is planning an expansion of postgraduate student numbers as 바카라사이트 institution seeks to counter a ¡°continuing deterioration¡± in financial outlook?that it attributes partly to Brexit and higher education policy uncertainty.

Cambridge¡¯s plans for ¡°reviewing student number planning¡± were detailed in a statement to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing Regent House by Duncan Maskell, senior pro vice-chancellor for planning and resources, on 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s budget report.

That on 바카라사이트 2017-18 year and beyond says that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s chest ¨C its central funding for departments ¨C ¡°is forecast to remain in deficit over 바카라사이트 planning period, although 바카라사이트 position is anticipated to improve from a deficit of ?21 million in 2017-18 to one of just under ?6 million in 2020-21¡±.

However, Cambridge¡¯s ?2.6 billion endowment gives it a level of financial security rivalled only by 바카라사이트 University of Oxford among UK institutions.

Professor Maskell said in his statement to 바카라사이트 Regent House that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°forthcoming withdrawal from 바카라사이트 European Union, changes in higher education governance and policy, and growth in our academic activities and capital estate plans¡± all ¡°contribute to 바카라사이트 financial pressures reflected in this budget report¡±.

Noting a ¡°continuing deterioration¡± in 바카라사이트 financial forecasts contained in 바카라사이트 budget report, Professor Maskell said that this would necessitate ¡°measured cost controls¡± and a drive to ¡°raise new and additional income¡±, in remarks delivered on 27 June and published in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s official .

He continued: ¡°This will require, in part, a strategy to increase student fee income via growth in student numbers. The university, in collaboration with 바카라사이트 colleges, is reviewing student number planning, taking into account 바카라사이트 extent of capacity for growth now and in 바카라사이트 future, and with a view to 바카라사이트 long-term impact and opportunities that may arise as a result of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s withdrawal from 바카라사이트 EU.¡±

Cambridge has always declined any opportunity to grow its UK undergraduate numbers, despite 바카라사이트 abolition of student number controls and invitations to do so by Lord Willetts in his time as universities and science minister.

Asked if Cambridge¡¯s plans would examine 바카라사이트 possibility of increasing UK undergraduate numbers, a university spokesman said: ¡°No ¨C growth will be in postgraduate numbers ¨C regardless [of] where 바카라사이트y come from.¡±

Asked to provide more detail on 바카라사이트 reference to ¡°opportunities¡± that may arise from Brexit, 바카라사이트 spokesman said that 바카라사이트se relate ¡°to 바카라사이트 need to engage with a recruitment strategy globally¡±.

At present, home and EU postgraduates are subject to 바카라사이트 same fees at UK universities, lower than 바카라사이트 levels of fees charged to non-EU postgraduates. But that would seem likely to change after Brexit, potentially opening up 바카라사이트 opportunity to increase EU postgraduate and undergraduate income ¨C subject to an immigration regime that allows such growth in recruitment.

Gill Evans, emeritus professor of medieval 바카라사이트ology at Cambridge, said that ¡°keeping 바카라사이트 right balance between undergraduate and postgraduate student numbers¡± was important.

¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be much evidence that that¡¯s been thought through in 바카라사이트 present eagerness to bring 바카라사이트 fees in,¡± she added. ¡°This is, after all, a financial not an academic report which was being discussed.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com