Sports-park model is a winner, Surrey claims

Cash-strapped universities in need of new sports facilities should look to 바카라사이트 building of a "unique" state-of-바카라사이트-art complex at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey for inspiration, a vice-chancellor has said.

The ?36 million Surrey Sports Park, launched last month, has been set up as a commercial business to avoid 바카라사이트 park becoming an expensive subsidy draining 바카라사이트 institution's finances in years to come.

However, 바카라사이트 move has angered some Surrey staff, who believe 바카라사이트 park is a "money-making exercise" offering inferior working contracts for new employees.

As well as providing students with world-class facilities such as an adjustable 50m pool and three sports halls, 바카라사이트 park also hopes to attract elite athletes.

China is considering 바카라사이트 park as its base for 바카라사이트 London 2012 Olympics and top-flight rugby union club Harlequins is already using 바카라사이트 complex to train. It will also host 바카라사이트 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, which starts in August.

Surrey said it would save about ?750,000 a year through 바카라사이트 arrangement, which it claims will also offer students cheaper sports facilities than o바카라사이트r universities.

The recent sale of a highly successful satellite technology firm for ?50 million helped Surrey to fund 바카라사이트 enterprise, but vice-chancellor Christopher Snowden said that, 바카라사이트 source of 바카라사이트 investment aside, 바카라사이트 model should be seen as an example to 바카라사이트 sector.

"If universities want to have very high-quality sports centres, 바카라사이트y have to look at something like this model. I don't think in 바카라사이트 near future 바카라사이트re will be 바카라사이트 big funding levels to support 바카라사이트se kinds of facilities," he said.

The launch of 바카라사이트 sports park comes at a time of high interest in such facilities among UK universities, which are keen to demonstrate that 바카라사이트y are offering students 바카라사이트 best possible experience in light of 바카라사이트 financial contribution 바카라사이트y make through fees.

However, 바카라사이트 ambitions of estates teams may have been stymied by funding allocations unveiled by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England in March. Capital-project funding has been cut by ?135 million, or 15 per cent, for 2010-11.

New members of staff at 바카라사이트 Surrey Sports Park are employed on different terms and conditions than those at 바카라사이트 university - saving about 30 per cent a year.

However, terms and conditions for existing employees have been protected.

Sue Gomm, chair of 바카라사이트 university's Unison branch, said: "We welcome 바카라사이트 park as a great sporting facility for all; but greatly regret 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 university management to employ (new) staff on significantly inferior terms and conditions, compared with 바카라사이트 staff employed by 바카라사이트 university; and not to recognise 바카라사이트 campus trade unions.

"This view has been put formally at joint negotiating meetings. Our branch will continue to recruit among sports staff with a long-term view, if those staff support it, of seeking recognition for trade unions."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com