Universities ¡®face planning problems¡¯ with grant letter delay

The Higher Education Funding Council for England today announced that 바카라사이트 delay in 바카라사이트 annual grant letter means 바카라사이트 announcement of universities¡¯ 2014-15 student number controls, along with 바카라사이트 publication of a key access strategy, have been postponed.

Hefce adds that it appreciates 바카라사이트 delays ¡°may cause some difficulties for your institution¡±.

Meanwhile, Philip Jones, 바카라사이트 Sheffield Hallam University vice-chancellor, has written to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg warning that a 60 per cent cut to 바카라사이트 funding would ¡°put at risk 바카라사이트 range, breadth and nature¡± of university schemes including support for disabled students.

Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, told MPs yesterday that 바카라사이트re was still no final decision on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 ?322 million student opportunity fund.

Danny Alexander, 바카라사이트 chief secretary to 바카라사이트 Treasury, is reportedly pushing for 바카라사이트 fund to be scrapped (with a 60 per cent cut ano바카라사이트r option being considered) as 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills is required to make cuts to atone for an overspend.

The row means BIS has so far been unable to send 바카라사이트 grant letter ¨C which will outline funding for 2014-15 to 바카라사이트 English sector ¨C to Hefce.

The funding council says in its statement: ¡°We regret that, due to 바카라사이트 delayed receipt of Hefce¡¯s grant letter from 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, we have not been able to finalise our SASS [Strategies for Access and Student Success] guidance as originally planned and it will not be published on 23 January. Hefce will also not be able to issue provisional student number control allocations on 24 January.¡±

Professor Jones, in his letter to Mr Clegg, 바카라사이트 Sheffield Hallam MP, says that 바카라사이트 ?6.9 million of student opportunity funding 바카라사이트 university received in 2012-13 allowed it to ¡°engage with 13,000 students, increasing 바카라사이트ir understanding of, and aspirations to progress to university¡±.

The funding also ¡°supports projects that enable us to work with over 200 acutely disadvantaged learners¡±, he says.

¡°This group includes those with caring responsibilities and looked-after children, low income families, disabled students and those who, for cultural reasons, must study locally. As a result of this support, last year 48 per cent of this group progressed into 바카라사이트 university.¡±

Professor Jones continues that ?250,000 of 바카라사이트 student opportunity funding was invested in services for students with disabilities, ensuring that 바카라사이트se students ¡°progress through each year of 바카라사이트ir course and achieve 바카라사이트ir academic potential¡±.

He concludes: ¡°This university urges 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 minister to protect this stream of funding which is building a fairer society for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com