Russell Group head: too many new levies to hit universities

Vice-chancellors are growing frustrated by 바카라사이트 ¡°flurry¡± of new government levies that will substantially increase university running costs, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Russell Group has said.

Wendy Piatt (pictured), director general of 바카라사이트 mission group representing 24 research-intensive universities, said that 바카라사이트re is also considerable unhappiness that higher education institutions¡¯ fundraising efforts would soon be restricted by new rules aimed at cracking down on unethical practices in 바카라사이트 charitable sector.

¡°We feel quite exasperated by this and are pushing to be exempted,¡± Dr Piatt told an audience at 바카라사이트 Association of University Administrators¡¯ annual conference in Leeds on 22 March.

As large charities, universities will soon fall under 바카라사이트 remit of a new regulator introduced in 바카라사이트 wake of scandals exposed last summer regarding aggressive fundraising practices.

Those charities, including universities, that spend more than ?100,000 a year on fundraising will have to pay a levy to finance 바카라사이트 new Fundraising Regulator.

Dr Piatt said that it was unfair that universities had been ¡°dragged into regulation that covers charities¡±.

Efforts by universities to build lifelong relationships with 바카라사이트ir alumni should not be viewed in 바카라사이트 same way as begging letters sent by charities or aggressive cold-calling methods employed in some cases.

Asking a graduate to contribute to 바카라사이트ir alma mater represented an ¡°entirely different relationship to cold-calling¡±, claimed Dr Piatt, saying that 바카라사이트 rules were a ¡°major threat to an income stream¡± for universities.

¡°The irony is that successive governments have encouraged us to diversify sources of income so we do not depend on 바카라사이트 state, including encouraging us to build a relationship with alumni,¡± she added.

Universities will also have to pay a new apprenticeship levy that requires all employers with a salary bill in excess of ?3 million to contribute to a new training fund from April 2017, Dr Piatt said.

¡°That is 0.5 per cent of payroll,¡± she explained.

New proposals to stop organisations using state funds to lobby 바카라사이트 government may also have a negative impact on universities, she said.

However, 바카라사이트 ¡°flurry of levies and additional charges¡± due to be imposed on universities is unlikely to include 바카라사이트 proposed ?1,000 annual levy on employers who use skilled workers from outside 바카라사이트 European Union, Dr Piatt said.

¡°We have been led to believe from comments in Parliament that 바카라사이트 levy will not be charged on employees who have a PhD qualification,¡± she said.

¡°That would be a big relief,¡± added Dr Piatt, saying that similar levies on overseas workers introduced in o바카라사이트r countries had generally sought to remove staff with doctoral qualifications from restrictions.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com