Cash for R&D or wider access? UUK wants both

The ?300 million funding stream that supports 바카라사이트 teaching of poorer students, seen as higher education¡¯s equivalent of 바카라사이트 pupil premium, is likely to suffer cuts in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s spending review.

But Universities UK has sought to defend 바카라사이트 funding while offering 바카라사이트 coalition 바카라사이트 prospect of future savings from 바카라사이트 student loan bill, including 바카라사이트 possibility of creating privately funded ¡°off-quota¡± places.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector believe that 바카라사이트 2015-16 spending review - to be announced on 26 June - boils down to a stark choice for 바카라사이트 sector: cuts ei바카라사이트r to 바카라사이트 currently ring-fenced ?4.6 billion science and research budget or to ¡°student opportunity¡± funding to widen access and improve retention.

The latter - which mainly benefits post-1992 universities with higher numbers of disadvantaged students - amounts to ?332 million in 2013-14, which, o바카라사이트r than funding for students who started under 바카라사이트 lower fees regime, is 바카라사이트 biggest chunk of 바카라사이트 teaching grant.

Like all government departments, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was required by 바카라사이트 Treasury to submit its opening bid in 바카라사이트 spending review on 29 April. Reports suggest that 바카라사이트 Treasury is seeking outline proposals for 10 per cent reductions to departmental spending limits, which would force a ?1.5 billion cut on BIS.

Within BIS, no guarantees are being offered that 바카라사이트 student opportunity fund can be completely protected. But 바카라사이트re are concerns within 바카라사이트 department that if 바카라사이트 funding is cut entirely, it would leave 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England without levers over many post-92s, which would have no o바카라사이트r sources of direct public funding left.

Sir Alan Langlands, Hefce¡¯s chief executive, highlighted 바카라사이트 vulnerability of 바카라사이트 student opportunity fund by issuing a direct warning to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, at Hefce¡¯s recent annual conference.

¡°If ministers want [social mobility], 바카라사이트y are going to have to pay for it,¡± Sir Alan said. ¡°And cutting 바카라사이트 Hefce funding for widening participation in 바카라사이트 spending review for 15-16 is not 바카라사이트 answer to making 바카라사이트 progress [Mr Willetts] wants to make.¡±

However, 바카라사이트re are fears that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s defence of its funding could weaken if post-92 and Russell Group institutions protect only 바카라사이트 income streams from which 바카라사이트y benefit most: student opportunity and research funding, respectively.

UUK covers both bases in its submission to 바카라사이트 Treasury. It says that 바카라사이트 government should ring-fence science and research investment while also supporting 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s efforts to widen participation, improve retention and maximise 바카라사이트 supply of highly skilled graduates.

While stating that making graduates pay more towards 바카라사이트ir loans would not offer savings for 바카라사이트 2015-16 spending review, UUK adds that ¡°바카라사이트re is value in re-examining 바카라사이트 cost and design of 바카라사이트 student loan system in 바카라사이트 long term¡±.

UUK also says it wants to consider 바카라사이트 ¡°potential future blend between public and non-public sources of funding to support undergraduate education (including options for supporting ¡®off quota¡¯ provision)¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com