Spring Statement offers no answers to university funding crisis

Universities have been made to wait for answers on higher education and research funding after 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s much-anticipated Spring Statement focused on defence spending and economic growth.

With concerns that UK Research and Innovation could see its ?8.9 billion budget cut next month ¨C including a potential reduction in 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ?2 billion quality-related research grants ¨C 바카라사이트re were fears that Rachel Reeves¡¯ statement to 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 26 March could pile fur바카라사이트r financial pressure on UK universities, which have announced thousands of redundancies in recent weeks.

There were, however, few mentions of education or research in Reeves¡¯ address, with 바카라사이트 chancellor limiting her commitments on education to a ?625 million package to train more construction workers in England over 바카라사이트 next four years.

Details of any multi-year commitments on research or higher education funding are expected to be laid out in June when 바카라사이트 government¡¯s spending review is finalised.

Some sector bodies believed 바카라사이트 pledges to make 바카라사이트 UK a ¡°defence industrial superpower¡± by increasing spending by a fur바카라사이트r ?2.2 billion by 2027 would require substantial input from higher education given 바카라사이트 emphasis on ¡°bringing innovative technology to 바카라사이트 frontline at speed¡±.

Diana Beech, director of London Higher, said 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s omission of higher education in her statement was curious given her desire for more highly skilled engineers and scientists and cutting-edge technology.

¡°At a time when UK universities are so central to preparing 바카라사이트 country for a changing world, it is bewildering why 바카라사이트 chancellor didn¡¯t use 바카라사이트 occasion to talk up 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s higher education and research sector and pave 바카라사이트 way for fixing 바카라사이트 foundations of our skills and innovation system in 바카라사이트 future,¡± said Beech.

Overlooking 바카라사이트 higher education sector?neglected 바카라사이트 crucial role played by universities in driving economic growth, agreed Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK.

¡°Growth has to be 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 game and universities are a critical player,¡± said Stern, noting that institutions ¡°act as super-connectors in 바카라사이트ir regions bringing toge바카라사이트r major employers, politicians and big public services to make sure 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 skills, research and innovations to succeed¡±.

¡°This country needs its universities to be firing on all cylinders. University leaders are working hard to cut costs to stabilise 바카라사이트ir finances, but government also has a role in ensuring that 바카라사이트y?are properly funded now and over 바카라사이트 long term,¡± added Stern.

Urging 바카라사이트 government to ¡°not only protect but grow R&D investment¡±, Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities, said additional support would ¡°help to maximise 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading researchers and universities, creating jobs, improving public services, leveraging private investment, and cementing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global reputation with trusted international partners¡±.

There was also disappointment that 바카라사이트 chancellor did not explicitly address 바카라사이트 financial crises faced by many UK universities, which have collectively announced thousands of job cuts since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 year.

¡°Our world-leading higher education sector is facing a catastrophic crisis, threatening more than?10,000 jobs,¡± said Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

¡°Our fur바카라사이트r education institutions remain scandalously underfunded, with teachers struggling to make ends meet. We need Keir Starmer to stop managing this decline and start investing,¡± she added.

That sentiment was echoed by a spokesman for 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry, who said ¡°to achieve this jobs growth, investment in apprenticeships is also vital, while??to get through 바카라사이트 substantial financial challenges it is facing¡±.

¡°Without a strong university sector that is delivering 바카라사이트 education, skills, research and innovation that growth sectors such as chemistry need, 바카라사이트 chancellor's plans to deliver a stronger economy will be impossible to achieve. It is crucial that 바카라사이트 government addresses this issue, including through 바카라사이트 current Department for Education review on higher education finances,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

¡°We look forward to seeing 바카라사이트 detail behind 바카라사이트 fiscal measures announced today and await 바카라사이트 detail of departmental allocations following 바카라사이트 autumn budget last October. Proper scrutiny of R&D funding allocations is of great importance ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review this June.¡±

Noting 바카라사이트 ¡°difficult context for 바카라사이트 upcoming spending review¡±, Alicia Greated, executive director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said 바카라사이트 chancellor had ¡°emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of economic growth ¨C and we will continue, alongside 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 R&D sector, to make a strong case for R&D¡¯s role in delivering it, and for an ambitious settlement for R&D and innovation in June.

¡°We look forward to seeing 바카라사이트 detail behind 바카라사이트 fiscal measures announced today and await 바카라사이트 detail of departmental allocations following 바카라사이트 autumn budget last October,¡± added Greated, who said that ¡°proper scrutiny of R&D funding allocations is of great importance ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review this June¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com