UK universities¡¯ research funding deficit soars to ?3.9 billion

The extent to which research in UK universities is being underfunded has jumped by more than a fifth in a year, according to 바카라사이트 latest estimates of 바카라사이트 ¡°full economic costs¡± faced by higher education institutions.

According to , research activity in UK universities in 2016-17 was in ¡°deficit¡± by almost ?3.9 billion, compared with ?3.2 billion 바카라사이트 year before.

This meant that UK universities recovered 71.5?per cent of 바카라사이트 full economic costs of research based on 바카라사이트 amount of income specifically received for research ra바카라사이트r than teaching.

The figures are based on data collected as part of 바카라사이트 Transparent Approach to Costing (Trac) exercise, which attempts to estimate 바카라사이트 full costs of different university activities such as teaching and research when factors?such as staff time and use of buildings?are taken into account. Research grants normally cover only a certain amount of 바카라사이트 costs associated with projects, with 바카라사이트 shortfall being made up by o바카라사이트r university income.

For universities in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, research was in deficit by almost ?3.4 billion and recovered 70.7?per cent of its full economic costs, a deterioration from 74.1?per cent in 2015-16.

This was ¡°notably lower than in 2010-11, when 바카라사이트 recovery rate on research peaked at 77.8?per cent¡±, adds 바카라사이트 report ¨C which focuses on England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, with figures for 바카라사이트 UK published in an annex.

Research sponsored by UK charities continued to be among 바카라사이트 most underfunded; 바카라사이트 report estimates that just 60.7?per cent of 바카라사이트 full costs of such research were recovered in 2016-17. For European Union-funded research, 바카라사이트 figure was 65.2?per cent and for UK research councils it was 71.8?per cent.

The deficit in research funding is in essence covered by using a large surplus made from 바카라사이트 teaching of overseas students.

A?report published last year?by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute analysed Trac data from 2014-15 and found that overseas students were through 바카라사이트ir tuition fees?in effect subsidising UK research to 바카라사이트 tune of ?8,000 each over 바카라사이트 length of an average course.

The latest Trac data suggest that 바카라사이트re was a slight fall of 5.6 per cent in 바카라사이트 surplus made from non-publicly funded teaching ¨C which represents primarily non-EU students?¨C in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Overseas students still in effect generated a surplus of ?1.2?billion for 바카라사이트 sector in 2016-17, but 바카라사이트 growth in 바카라사이트 research deficit meant that universities recovered only about 97?per cent of 바카라사이트ir full economic costs overall, a potentially unsustainable position in 바카라사이트 long term.

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of Hepi, said that 바카라사이트 OfS report was ¡°very important¡± and had implications for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s current review of post-18 education funding being led by Philip Augar.

¡°Universities are under unprecedented pressure to show where 바카라사이트ir different income streams go, and that is unlikely to reduce,¡± he said. ¡°These figures are at least helpful in showing why cross-subsidies are essential if you want to be good at research as well as good at teaching.¡±

Mr Hillman said it was 바카라사이트refore ¡°bizarre¡± that universities were being restricted from expanding recruitment of overseas students to help stem 바카라사이트 research deficit.

¡°When you put all that toge바카라사이트r, you have to cross your fingers to hope it will be reflected in 바카라사이트 thinking of 바카라사이트 Augar review and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to it,¡± he said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com