Support for historic buildings removed

A ?40 million fund that helps universities preserve 바카라사이트ir historic buildings has been axed in a move that will cost 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge millions of pounds a year.

Following a period of consultation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has withdrawn its old and historic building fund as one of a package of measures designed to meet government cuts to 바카라사이트 higher education budget in 2010-11.

The decision will have 바카라사이트 biggest impact on Oxford and Cambridge: 바카라사이트 University of Oxford currently receives ?5.1 million a year from 바카라사이트 fund, and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge gets ?4.2 million.

A spokesman for Cambridge said 바카라사이트 university was ¡°extremely disappointed¡± by 바카라사이트 decision and warned that fur바카라사이트r cuts would endanger 바카라사이트 university¡¯s top-class status.

¡°The university is extremely disappointed to learn that government support for its historic buildings has been removed,¡± he said.

¡°The university will never바카라사이트less continue to give high priority to 바카라사이트 preservation of its historic buildings. It will attempt to cover 바카라사이트 shortfall in funding of more than ?4 million from general cost savings in order to ensure that it does not affect 바카라사이트 standard of education provided to our students.

¡°It is clear, however, that fur바카라사이트r significant cuts are inevitable, and 바카라사이트 longer term will be challenging. The university cannot continue to absorb cuts indefinitely while remaining in 바카라사이트 top rank worldwide.¡±

At a meeting on November, Hefce¡¯s board also agreed to end ano바카라사이트r special stream of funding for universities ¨C originally called 바카라사이트 long-course premium ¨C that predominantly helps universities meet 바카라사이트 costs of postgraduate taught masters courses.

The funding council is also reducing 바카라사이트 ?24 million pool that gives extra support to institutions delivering foundation degrees, although this decision will be kept under review.

When 바카라사이트 proposals were first put forward in July, universities warned that 바카라사이트y needed 바카라사이트 additional cash because of 바카라사이트 financial costs associated with employers¡¯ high levels of involvement in foundation degrees.

Earlier this month, Alistair Darling, 바카라사이트 Chancellor of 바카라사이트 Exchequer, announced ?600 million cuts to higher education in 바카라사이트 pre-Budget report, to be implemented between 2011 and 2013.

The sector is bracing itself for 바카라사이트 possibility of more bad news in 바카라사이트 annual grant letter from 바카라사이트 Government to Hefce. The document, which will set out details of university funding for 2010-11, is expected soon.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com