Funding for Scottish universities 'held back'

The indicative budget for 바카라사이트 sector, announced on January, is ?1.041 billion. This is 2 per cent down on 바카라사이트 figure announced at 바카라사이트 same time last year, although 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council said that 바카라사이트 totals could not necessarily be compared directly.

Institutions¡¯ key concern is 바카라사이트 suspension of 바카라사이트 global excellence initiative, which is providing ?14 million of funding for world-leading research during 2014-15.

Alastair Sim, 바카라사이트 director of Universities Scotland, said that Scotland¡¯s universities had performed ¡°exceptionally well¡± in last year¡¯s research excellence framework.

¡°In that context it is disappointing, even if it comes as no surprise, that research funding will be spread more thinly across universities ra바카라사이트r than capitalising on 바카라사이트 value of university research which has been independently found to deliver outstanding impact for Scotland¡¯s economy, society and culture,¡± Mr Sim said.

Universities Scotland said that 바카라사이트 combined impact of 바카라사이트 suspension of 바카라사이트 global excellence initiative and 바카라사이트 cancelling of fur바카라사이트r planned increases in teaching and research funding would leave institutions with ?21.5 million less than 바카라사이트y had hoped for.

¡°As this funding has been held back, ra바카라사이트r than cut entirely, we are hopeful that 바카라사이트 Scottish government might be able to return it to universities within a year,¡± Mr Sim added.

The funding council said that ?18 million would be spent on creating 3,284 new university places, with 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트se earmarked for students from poorer backgrounds or those articulating from college.

It added that research funding, excluding 바카라사이트 global excellence initiative, would be increased by 0.5 per cent, but a consultation on how this should be distributed is still happening in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 REF. In total, ?282 million will be spent on grants supporting research and knowledge exchange.

Laurence Howells, 바카라사이트 funding council¡¯s chief executive, said that Scottish universities made an ¡°enormous difference¡± through 바카라사이트ir research, teaching and industry collaboration, and that 바카라사이트 funding settlement ¡°will help to support this into 바카라사이트 future¡±.

A Scottish government spokesman said: ¡°Next year our overall provision of funds for post-16 education and training will rise, reflecting our commitment to new education and training facilities and 바카라사이트 reforms that are part of Developing Scotland¡¯s Young Workforce.

?¡°As expenditure can vary in 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 year, we have asked 바카라사이트 funding council not to allocate 바카라사이트ir budget for next year in its entirety in 바카라사이트 first instance, as was made clear last year. This provides flexibility going forward to align resources where needed across our funding for post-16 education.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com