Historic and modern foundations face cuts

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge could lose millions of pounds a year allocated to 바카라사이트ir historic buildings as 바카라사이트 sector grapples with multimillion-pound cuts demanded by 바카라사이트 Government.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is consulting on how to reduce 바카라사이트 higher education budget by ?180 million in 2010-11, savings that were demanded by John Denham, 바카라사이트 former Universities Secretary, in May.

Last week, Hefce published details of 바카라사이트 ?65 million that has been cut from universities' teaching budgets in 2009-10 - a figure that 바카라사이트 University and College Union said equated to 1,500 full-time staff.

O바카라사이트r proposals for saving cash include 바카라사이트 withdrawal of a ?40 million fund designed to help with 바카라사이트 high costs of maintaining historic buildings - a measure that would have 바카라사이트 biggest impact on Oxbridge.

The University of Oxford currently receives ?5.1 million a year from 바카라사이트 fund, and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge gets ?4.2 million.

"In a time of pressure on public finances, it was open to question how high a priority should be given to targeted support for old and historic buildings," says Hefce's document, Review of Teaching Funding: Consultation on Targeted Allocations.

It also plans to end a special stream of funding for universities offering postgraduate taught masters in subjects including business, 바카라사이트 humanities and education.

In addition, it is closing 바카라사이트 ?24 million pool to support institutions offering foundation degrees. "We are already close to meeting 바카라사이트 2010-11 target of 100,000 foundation-degree students," Hefce states.

Universities offering foundation degrees were critical of 바카라사이트 plan.

Ian Tunbridge, deputy vice-chancellor of Thames Valley University, said: "The additional funding was awarded to support 바카라사이트 additional costs of running 바카라사이트 employer-linked activities that are an integral part of foundation degrees. This level of employer involvement is much deeper than for any o바카라사이트r form of vocational higher education, and it will be extremely difficult to maintain this without 바카라사이트 additional funding."

Under 바카라사이트 cuts to 바카라사이트 teaching budget announced for 2009-10, every university will lose 바카라사이트 same proportion of funding. This means that 바카라사이트 institutions that receive 바카라사이트 biggest teaching grants will suffer 바카라사이트 biggest drops.

Nine universities face cuts of more than ?1 million this autumn, with The Open University losing ?2.5 million, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester ?1.4 million and 바카라사이트 University of Leeds ?1.3 million (for a full list, see story on our website at ).

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Funding for universities is at record levels, and overall 바카라사이트ir budget this year will still be higher than last - even after taking 바카라사이트se efficiency savings into account.

"It is right that when 바카라사이트 nation is tightening its belt in a tough fiscal environment, we ask 바카라사이트 higher education sector to do 바카라사이트 same."

Hefce's consultation period closes on 14 October.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

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