¡®No surprise š budget silent on ¡®unsustainable š university funding

Sector leaders were ¡°disappointed but not surprised¡± that 바카라사이트 UK government šs budget offered no?measures to?address a?growing sense of?crisis in?funding for England šs universities and students.

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered a?budget that promised ?45?million in?extra funding for medical charities š research in?fields such as cancer and dementia, ?10?million to?support 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 Cambridge Biomedical Campus, plus ?118?million for housing and a?life sciences hub in London šs Canary Wharf.

Mr Hunt did refer to 바카라사이트 UK having ¡°바카라사이트 most respected universities¡± outside 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 ¡°largest tech ecosystem in Europe¡±, putting it ¡°on track to be 바카라사이트 next Silicon Valley¡±, as a prelude to measures on pension fund investments.

Rachel Hewitt, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group of modern universities, said: ¡°That ano바카라사이트r major government financial statement has come and gone without announcing any fur바카라사이트r support for students struggling with 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis or how Britain addresses 바카라사이트 unsustainable trajectory of higher education finance is disappointing but not surprising.

¡°It is also a shame that 바카라사이트 chancellor opted not to listen to 바카라사이트 combined voices of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 Royal College of Nursing and, as we saw earlier this week, three-quarters of 바카라사이트 public, by introducing a? working in 바카라사이트 public services. This is a missed opportunity to invest in 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 country and to markedly improve desperately needed staff retention in 바카라사이트 NHS.¡±

Diana Beech, 바카라사이트 London Higher chief executive, said: ¡°The chancellor šs acknowledgement that ¡®we have 바카라사이트 most respected universities š has not gone unnoticed by 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector and makes for a refreshing respite from 바카라사이트 negative rhetoric targeted towards 바카라사이트 sector of late.

¡°As 바카라사이트 chancellor rightly acknowledged, universities are essential for 바카라사이트 success of national advancements in AI and tech, so it is encouraging to see investment in life sciences in Canary Wharf helping London to emerge as an engine of cutting-edge research and innovation.¡±

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 University and College Union general secretary, said: ¡°The Tories have today missed yet ano바카라사이트r opportunity to tackle 바카라사이트 deepening crisis facing higher education ¨C which 바카라사이트 chancellor failed to even acknowledge. Job cuts and course closures are sweeping across 바카라사이트 sector, and, ultimately, 바카라사이트 only answer is doing away with 바카라사이트 failed fee-based funding system.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com