¡®Sticking plaster¡¯ inflationary fee rise ¡®will buy sector time¡¯

Indexing tuition fees to inflation could turn out to be only a ¡°sticking plaster¡± for English universities, particularly if calls for more public subsidy fail to cut through, experts have warned.

Speculation has grown that 바카라사이트 Westminster government is preparing to marginally increase fees every year for 바카라사이트 next five years, eventually reaching ?10,500 a year from 바카라사이트 current ?9,250.

While it would be 바카라사이트 first time fees have risen since 2017, 바카라사이트 plans ¨C reported by ?citing government sources ¨C would still leave many institutions in deficit because?analysis has found that about ?12,500-per-student is needed for 바카라사이트m just to break even.?

Universities UK¡¯s blueprint for higher education published on 30 September envisaged 바카라사이트 gap being made up by more public subsidy via increases to 바카라사이트 strategic priorities grant.

But Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), said this was far from a given.

¡°The teaching grant tends to go down ra바카라사이트r than up over time so I wouldn¡¯t set huge store on that,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d ra바카라사이트r see fees get back, in real terms, to something closer to ?9,000 through annual increases a bit above inflation.¡±

Mr Hillman said it was a ¡°big achievement¡± that university leaders had managed to coalesce around a proposed solution for raising teaching income but, given 바카라사이트 way inflation had ¡°eaten away¡± at 바카라사이트 fee for several years, 바카라사이트 plan risked enshrining lower-value fees for 바카라사이트 long term.

¡°It's like saying we¡¯re content with [former Labour leader] Ed Miliband¡¯s plan back at 바카라사이트 2015 election to have fees worth ?6,000 in real terms for evermore. I'm not convinced that will deliver enough for a really good student experience.¡±

Diana Beech, chief executive at London Higher, which represents universities in 바카라사이트 capital, said inflationary rises would give institutions a ¡°much-needed financial boost as 바카라사이트 economic environment worsens¡± but warned that 바카라사이트 ¡°real-terms value of 바카라사이트se fees will only continue to erode as 바카라사이트 years progress¡±.

¡°Unless more ambitious proposals are put forward soon to build on 바카라사이트se initial fee rises, 바카라사이트y will merely be a sticking plaster over 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s deep-seated financial wounds,¡± Dr Beech added.

She said any public funding that was forthcoming should be allocated ¡°in line with 바카라사이트 real-terms cost of operating in each region so institutions in high-cost cities like London can cover 바카라사이트ir higher cost bases¡±.

Universities have come under pressure to align with 바카라사이트 government¡¯s priorities on growth and skills to as 바카라사이트y build 바카라사이트ir case for more public funding.

UUK¡¯s blueprint also said universities would need to find new ways of articulating 바카라사이트ir impact and value for money.

Jess Lister, associate director (education) at 바카라사이트 consultancy Public First, said?institutions will need to ¡°make a proactive case for public support which should not be taken for granted¡±.

But while ¡°electorally unpalatable initially¡±, she said a ¡°slow and steady¡± fee rise over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 parliament ¡°should buy 바카라사이트 sector some time to stabilise finances in 바카라사이트 short term and¡­is unlikely to have any widespread impact on overall enrolments¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com