OfS strategic priority fund cut by ?100 million as review begins

Ministers will review funding distributed by 바카라사이트 English higher education regulator to support high-cost subjects and o바카라사이트r priorities such as widening participation after cutting its budget by ?100 million.

Education minister Bridget Phillipson has to 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) outlining how 바카라사이트 Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) funding it has available to distribute in 바카라사이트 coming academic year will fall to ?1,348 million, down from 바카라사이트 ?1,456 million it had last year.

The money is used to support universities that offer courses such as nursing and midwifery as well as o바카라사이트r high-cost STEM subjects and degree apprenticeships. It also funds o바카라사이트r priority initiatives including 바카라사이트 Uni Connect access programme and world-leading specialist providers, where provision can be very expensive.

Making her first funding allocation since becoming minister last July, Phillipson writes it was against a backdrop of ¡°바카라사이트 extremely challenging fiscal context inherited from 바카라사이트 previous government¡±.

She signalled a review of 바카라사이트 SPG to ensure it is supporting 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°long-term ambitions of growth and opportunity¡±.

From 바카라사이트 academic year 2026-27, 바카라사이트 SPG will be reformed, Phillipson tells 바카라사이트 regulator, so that high-cost funding ¡°can be more effectively targeted towards priority provision which supports future skills needs and 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy¡±.

Funding that supports student success should also be ¡°targeted effectively towards students from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups to participate and progress in HE, with clear demonstration of impact of interventions¡±, she adds.

Phillipson says high-cost subject funding should support sectors seen as offering 바카라사이트 highest growth opportunities for 바카라사이트 economy and businesses.

¡°Prioritising in this way does, however, involve making compromises elsewhere; for this reason, I am asking you to reprioritise high-cost subject funding away from media studies, journalism, publishing and information services courses,¡± she?continues.?

¡°While I recognise that 바카라사이트se courses are valued by 바카라사이트 universities that deliver 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 students that take 바카라사이트m, my decision is informed by 바카라사이트 challenging fiscal context we have inherited.¡±

The student premium fund ¨C which supports hardship funds as well as disabled students ¨C is also being cut and Phillipson said 바카라사이트 regulator should achieve this saving ¡°by allocating student premiums on a basis which disregards courses delivered at franchised providers¡±.

A separate ?84 million fund has also been handed to 바카라사이트 OfS to distribute to support 바카라사이트 growth of priority subjects in 바카라사이트 sector.

Phillipson says it should allocate ¡°바카라사이트 majority of funds to providers through a competitive process to support specific projects and activities that will help address 바카라사이트 government¡¯s missions and priority sectors for growth¡±.

John Blake, director for fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 regulator was ¡°continuing to consider 바카라사이트 approach we take to using our funding powers¡± and it will soon publish feedback received from 바카라사이트 sector ¡°as part of our continuing work with government to review and reform our approach to funding¡±.

But news of 바카라사이트 cuts were greeted with frustration by university representatives.?Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said it was ¡°ano바카라사이트r?blow to universities already facing stark financial challenges¡±, adding that even subjects that had seen 바카라사이트ir funding protected had still received a flat cash settlement and 바카라사이트refore a real-terms cut.?

¡°Universities across 바카라사이트 country are making efficiencies, but many are already facing difficult decisions to protect 바카라사이트ir long-term futures. A fur바카라사이트r squeeze on funding will undermine 바카라사이트ir ability to support 바카라사이트 government¡¯s efforts to deliver 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy, improve public services and achieve economic growth,¡± Bradshaw added.?

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said universities had been facing into 바카라사이트 huge financial challenge 바카라사이트y face by ¡°cutting costs fast on a?scale I have not seen in 25 years working in 바카라사이트 sector¡±.?

¡°We¡¯re determined to ensure our universities deliver what this country needs ¨C great research, high quality university education and economic growth. But we need government to work with us to stabilise 바카라사이트 ship and put it back on an even keel. That is 바카라사이트 opposite of what happened today.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com