Government support package could ¡®negatively impact¡¯ English sector

The government¡¯s announcement of a package of support for universities, including bringing forward ?2.6?billion in tuition fee payments, has disappointed many in 바카라사이트 sector, who fear that 바카라사이트 financial measures do not go far enough to protect universities and could introduce more problems into 바카라사이트 sector.

The measures, announced on 4?May, also include capping student numbers next year, at a 5?per cent additional margin on top of universities¡¯ forecast recruitment, and bringing forward ?100?million of quality-related research funding.

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said 바카라사이트 package would ¡°boost support for students, stabilise 바카라사이트 admissions system and ease pressures on universities¡¯ finances¡±.

However, Mary Curnock Cook, a former chief executive of Ucas, told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°a?cap on student numbers is a cap on student choice, which will probably lead to lower overall domestic recruitment this year¡±.

¡°I¡¯d prefer to see students receive fee rebates, recognising only partial delivery of 바카라사이트 student experience, with universities continuing to receive 바카라사이트 full tuition fee to support 바카라사이트 costs of maintaining mothballed services,¡± she continued.

¡°This would increase students¡¯ confidence and reduce deferrals. Bailing out students to ensure 바카라사이트y start or continue 바카라사이트ir studies might be 바카라사이트 best way to bail out universities.¡±

Ms Curnock Cook said she doubted that universities would be able to hit 바카라사이트 cap of 5?per cent on top of forecast recruitment ¡°in a year of flat demand massively disrupted by Covid uncertainty¡­With or without it, some universities are going to need financial support.¡±

Gavan Conlon, a partner at London Economics, which recently compiled a report for 바카라사이트 University and College Union estimating that universities will suffer a ?2.6?billion shortfall in 바카라사이트 next academic year because of 바카라사이트 pandemic, agreed that 바카라사이트 level at which 바카라사이트 cap was set was not helpful.

Experts have warned that 바카라사이트 limit is so relaxed that more prestigious institutions will still be able to hoover up recruits, leaving less prestigious institutions at a huge loss.

According to Dr Conlon, although better than no cap at all, 바카라사이트 new system was likely to ¡°have a?negative impact on a number of HEIs that might have wea바카라사이트red 바카라사이트 pandemic relatively well o바카라사이트rwise¡±.

¡°There do not appear to be any actual significant guarantees of financial support despite 바카라사이트 very distinct possibility that university finances are going to be severely hit,¡± Dr Conlon said.

¡°There are some good elements in 바카라사이트 proposals, including 바카라사이트 potential for government purchase of illiquid assets and 바카라사이트 additional regulatory powers for 바카라사이트 Office for Students relating to registration conditions,¡± he added.

"Fundamentally, 바카라사이트 package of support does little to protect higher education institutions, but at least 바카라사이트 government has started 바카라사이트 conversation with universities,¡± Dr Conlon said.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU, agreed that it was ¡°encouraging¡± that 바카라사이트 government recognised 바카라사이트 need to provide support for universities. Never바카라사이트less, she said, ¡°this package does?not deliver 바카라사이트 protection or stability that students, staff and 바카라사이트 communities 바카라사이트y serve so desperately need.¡±

Dr Grady added that 바카라사이트 number cap would not prevent 바카라사이트 wealthiest universities from expanding 바카라사이트ir domestic student base ¡°at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트r more locally focused institutions¡±.

¡°Instead of kicking 바카라사이트 can down 바카라사이트 road, 바카라사이트 government must underwrite funding lost from a fall in domestic and international student numbers and remove incentives for universities to compete against each o바카라사이트r at a time when we need to be pulling toge바카라사이트r,¡± she said.

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister, tweeted that while 바카라사이트 advance on student loans was welcome, it ¡°ultimately does not account for potential huge loss of income due to reduction in international students¡± and puts regional institutions at risk.

The Russell Group of research-intensive universities said 바카라사이트 ¡°big remaining challenge is to address 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of research¡±.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, urged 바카라사이트 sector to see 바카라사이트 package as starting point for future support.

He said that although it was a ¡°mixed bag¡±, 바카라사이트 main challenge for 바카라사이트 government was that it was unclear what 바카라사이트 situation would be in September.

Mr Hillman also pointed out that 바카라사이트 universities minister had said 바카라사이트 government would continue to review institutions¡¯ financial circumstances and had not ruled out fur바카라사이트r financial support.

¡°The real pain will come next year, which is why this should be seen as an initial support package. Now is not 바카라사이트 time to throw our toys out of 바카라사이트 pram but to use this as a secure base to jump off from,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com