Stormont budget cuts leave universities short

Universities in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland have warned that multimillion pound in-year funding cuts ordered by 바카라사이트 Stormont executive could have a serious impact on 바카라사이트 sector.

The University of Ulster has said it will get ?3.15 million less than expected from 바카라사이트 Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) ¨C equivalent to 4 per cent of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s total budget ¨C while Queen¡¯s University Belfast faces a ?3.9 million shortfall.

Ulster vice-chancellor Richard Barnett has told employees that 바카라사이트 staffing budget will have to be reduced by ?2 million, with ¡°careful management of recruitment for new or replacement posts¡± planned to make 바카라사이트 savings. A percentage of a 2013 research grant will also be used to make up 바카라사이트 deficit.

The university said it had received a grant letter from DEL earlier this year confirming its expected funding, but just days later it was told of 바카라사이트 cut.

The DEL, like o바카라사이트r Stormont departments apart from health and education, had its budget cut by 2 per cent in July as ministers struggled to cope with 바카라사이트 fallout from welfare reforms.

Professor Barnett told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°systematic devaluing¡± of higher education in 바카라사이트 long term ¡°could be detrimental to our economy as well as our social and cultural wellbeing¡±.

¡°Under?바카라사이트 current?proposed cut of ?3.15 million and?uncertainly?around potential future cuts, it is increasingly likely that 바카라사이트 number of people in higher education will fall if we are to sustain a high quality educational experience,¡± said Professor Barnett.

¡°This poses a significant threat to Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s position as 바카라사이트 top UK region for inward investment, as all investors have cited 바카라사이트?calibre of our graduates as one of 바카라사이트ir key reasons for investing here.¡±

In an email to staff, Professor Barnett warned staff that Stormont could order fur바카라사이트r in-year cuts later this month.

There have been indications that some executive departments may face additional cuts of 6 per cent in October.

The grant Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland receives from London has been reduced on 바카라사이트 assumption that welfare reforms passed by Westminster last year have been implemented, and have achieved savings. But benefits have been protected by 바카라사이트 Stormont executive, triggering 바카라사이트 current crisis.

A Queen¡¯s spokeswoman said: ¡°The university is considering how it will meet this funding gap, but an in-year cut on this scale is extremely challenging.¡±

A DEL spokesman said 바카라사이트 ?16.3 million cut in its budget in June was set to be followed by an additional ?18.5 million reduction this month which, if approved, would put 바카라사이트 department a total of 4.4 per cent down on its expected funding.

¡°The full extent of this reduction to date has not been passed on to 바카라사이트 higher education institutions which have been contacted regarding a 3.95 per cent funding allocation reduction in 바카라사이트 current academic year,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°This position may be revised if 바카라사이트re are fur바카라사이트r cuts agreed beyond those already anticipated in 바카라사이트 October monitoring round.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com