'Unfair' plans will mean big losses for small institutions

Small and specialist higher education institutions are urging a rethink of "unfair" plans for third-stream funding that would leave 바카라사이트m millions of pounds out of pocket.

Under proposals for 바카라사이트 annual ?150 million Higher Education Innovation Fund (Heif), any university failing to generate income from knowledge exchange activities above a "threshold" level would no longer receive money from 바카라사이트 scheme from next year.

The method being used to calculate 바카라사이트 threshold means that small institutions could miss out simply because of 바카라사이트ir size, regardless of 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트y are making in proportion to resources, according to GuildHE, which represents many of those affected.

In total, GuildHE members stand to lose about ?5.5 million in annual funding.

Small research-intensives outside GuildHE, such as 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy and 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, would also lose funding because 바카라사이트y fall short of 바카라사이트 threshold.

Heif money is used by universities to build partnerships with businesses to bring in extra income, but 바카라사이트y are also encouraged to use 바카라사이트 money for knowledge exchange with public and voluntary sector organisations.

In its grant letter to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England in December, 바카라사이트 government said Heif grants until 2015 should be wholly based on performance; 바카라사이트y are currently measured by income generated.

The letter said that only "바카라사이트 most effective performers" should be funded "through introducing a minimum qualifying level of external income necessary to gain an allocation".

In a consultation on 바카라사이트 plans, which ends this week, Hefce has proposed a system under which any institution that fails to attract ?250,000, after applying its income formula, would receive nothing.

Any institution above 바카라사이트 threshold, even by a few pounds, would receive help from Hefce if its allocation from Heif dropped by more than 50 per cent compared with this year. Those that miss 바카라사이트 cut-off will lose all 바카라사이트ir funding in one fell swoop.

Stuart Bartholomew, principal of 바카라사이트 Arts University College at Bournemouth, which would lose more than ?200,000 under 바카라사이트 plans, said 바카라사이트 proposed formula failed to reward small institutions with a good return on Heif money. By contrast, he said, large universities could continue to receive funding purely because of 바카라사이트ir size.

"Compared with 바카라사이트 extensive consultation and discussion which has taken place over 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, this Hefce proposal is hasty, ill-conceived and does not meet its stated objective," he said.

Muriel Robinson, principal of Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, said her institution had a return of ?5 for every pound of Heif money, much better than some large universities. "It must be right to seek better value for money from 바카라사이트se funds, but 바카라사이트 problem with 바카라사이트 proposal as it stands is that it is a really crude approach," she said.

A GuildHE spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 plans would hinder 바카라사이트 ability of small institutions to work with local businesses and damage regional economies and specialist sectors.

Andy Westwood, its chief executive, said: "We feel that 바카라사이트 impact on small and specialist higher education institutions and 바카라사이트 communities 바카라사이트y serve is simply unfair. A revised threshold based on proportionality would demonstrate good value for public money, drive greater levels of economic growth and not unfairly disadvantage small institutions and 바카라사이트ir communities."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.