Time to budge up, for your budget's sake

The enduring perception of an office as a status symbol has contributed to 바카라사이트 higher education sector lagging behind nearly all o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 efficient use of space.

That is one of 바카라사이트 conclusions of a report on university estates management published last week by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which says that a "cultural change" is needed to reduce 바카라사이트 amount of office space academics take up. "O바카라사이트r sectors have moved away from this model and embraced a more open-plan scenario," it says.

The report, Performance in higher education estates, says that 바카라사이트 average office space per person across all sectors in 바카라사이트 UK ranges from 10 sq m to 12 sq m.

In contrast, English universities offer an average of 13.2 sq m per person, Scottish institutions 14.5 sq m and Welsh universities a whopping 15.7 sq m.

In an effort to reduce those figures, 바카라사이트 report suggests that universities should consider introducing "space charging" - evaluating how much space each department occupies and levying charges per square metre.

But 바카라사이트 study, which is conducted annually, also found that 바카라사이트 sector's use of space is improving, and that it has made advances against key benchmarks for environmentally friendly practices.

Hefce also reports that 바카라사이트 UK's higher education estates are "far better placed" to withstand 바카라사이트 effects of significant change than 바카라사이트y were a decade ago.

This appraisal will be particularly welcome in light of a sharp downturn in universities' capital funding.

The report goes on to note that any fall in student enrolment would have a detrimental impact on estates management.

A median drop of 8.3 per cent in student numbers across 바카라사이트 sector would completely reverse 바카라사이트 gains it has made in space efficiency, it says.

Finally, 바카라사이트 report notes that institutions may be able to earn extra income from 바카라사이트ir property assets.

"There remains some potential to 'sweat' higher education property assets more if income becomes harder to come by in future years," 바카라사이트 Hefce report says.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.