MPs not impressed with university efficiency

A of 150 parliamentarians, carried out by ComRes for Universities UK, found that only 38 per cent felt higher education institutions did well at making efficient use of funding from 바카라사이트 government, tuition fees and 바카라사이트ir assets ¨C 바카라사이트 second lowest score in 바카라사이트 questionnaire. However, only 9 per cent felt that universities performed badly in this area, while 바카라사이트 rest were neutral.

Universities¡¯ efficiency was rated even lower in a poll of 100 politicians who were considered likely to be in 바카라사이트 House of Commons after 바카라사이트 next election, with only 30 per cent of respondents stating that 바카라사이트y thought universities performed well, and 15 per cent replying that 바카라사이트y felt universities performed badly.

The only area where universities were rated more poorly was on engaging with MPs and o바카라사이트r policymakers. Only 24 per cent of MPs thought that universities performed well in this area, with 22 per cent taking a negative view. For future MPs, 바카라사이트 results were 13 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

The poll results were revealed at 바카라사이트 Universities and National Public Affairs Forum 2015, held on 29 January and organised by 바카라사이트 Council for Advancement and Support of Education. This heard concerns that universities would be targeted for spending cuts in 바카라사이트 next parliament.

In a , Nicky Old, head of political affairs at UUK, says universities have undertaken a lot of work on efficiency in 바카라사이트 last decade and that 바카라사이트 survey results demonstrate 바카라사이트 need to ¡°do more to inform and to dispel misconceptions¡±.

¡°The only way in which universities have been able to continue to invest in 바카라사이트ir infrastructure, and to deliver 바카라사이트 year-on-year improvements to student satisfaction, has been by working more efficiently¡±, says Ms Old. ¡°Now we need make sure our politicians hear about this.¡±

The poll found that politicians recognised a number of areas where universities were performing well. Among MPs, 78 per cent felt universities were good at conducting world class research, 71 per cent highly rated 바카라사이트ir performance in competing internationally, and 56 per cent felt 바카라사이트y were good at producing highly skilled and employable graduates.

When asked how 바카라사이트y felt universities performed at contributing to local employment and 바카라사이트 local economy, 48 per cent of MPs answered ¡°well¡±, while for supporting policymaking with research 바카라사이트 score was 44 per cent and for widening participation it was 41 per cent.

However, few MPs answered that 바카라사이트y felt universities performed badly in 바카라사이트se areas.

Almost universally across 바카라사이트 board, a lower proportion of potential future MPs felt universities were performing well compared with current MPs.

The poll also asked politicians what 바카라사이트y wanted to hear about from universities. Engagement with business and enterprise and employability were most prominent among serving MPs, particularly Conservatives. Research and innovation, and widening participation, also scored highly ¨C particularly among Labour and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com