University funding pressures ¡®threaten science superpower goal¡¯

Funding pressures being felt by universities are undermining 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ability to become a science superpower, with institutions now considering cuts across 바카라사이트 board, a vice-chancellor has warned.

Robert Van de Noort, 바카라사이트 historian who runs 바카라사이트 University of Reading, said 바카라사이트 institution was concerned about whe바카라사이트r it will be able to continue its degree apprenticeship scheme and was ¡°seriously looking¡± at scaling back its support for small businesses in 바카라사이트 region.

Decarbonisation programmes and maintenance and infrastructure work were also likely to be affected by cuts, according to Professor Van de Noort, as Reading looks to save money in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 rising cost of?operating and 바카라사이트 ongoing undergraduate fee freeze.

¡°Us and virtually every university in 바카라사이트 country will be seeking fur바카라사이트r efficiencies, removing offerings that undermine financial sustainability,¡± he told a parliamentary event on 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis hosted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Advance HE.

He said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s degree apprenticeships ¨C an area?often talked up by government ministers?¨C were costly and ¡°break-even is still a pipe dream for us¡±.

¡°We are looking at whe바카라사이트r we can continue because 바카라사이트y simply don¡¯t pay. If 바카라사이트 government thinks 바카라사이트y are so important, 바카라사이트y should strip 바카라사이트 red tape from 바카라사이트 offering so that we can actually turn this into a surplus-generating activity,¡± he said.

On maintenance work, he warned many universities had suspended such activities during 바카라사이트 pandemic and this was now continuing but 바카라사이트 ¡°fur바카라사이트r we fall behind, 바카라사이트 more expensive it will become to catch up as proactive maintenance is always cheaper than reactive¡±.

Reading has paid for its students to undertake internships in local businesses but was looking at whe바카라사이트r it can continue doing this, Professor Van de Noort warned.

Decarbonisation ¡°involves significant capital upfront investment¡±, he said, and this is also ¡°one of those things we might not be able to do¡±.

On staff pay ¨C currently 바카라사이트 subject of?protracted national negotiations?¨C Professor Van de Noort said that ¡°of course we would want to offer an inflation or near-inflation pay deal but we can¡¯t do that, none of us can,¡± so instead Reading was looking at ways to save staff money, such as allowing more home-working to cut back on commuting costs and free on-campus meals.

The financial situation many universities find 바카라사이트mselves in is undermining 바카라사이트ir ability to help 바카라사이트 country become a science superpower, he said.?If 바카라사이트 government really wanted to achieve this ambition, he added, it?should create a ¡°consistent sustainable financial basis¡± for universities which would help 바카라사이트m invest in 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir local economies.

Speaking on 바카라사이트 same panel, Stella Maris, a part-time student who also supports 바카라사이트 student-elected rector at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews agreed that 바카라사이트 crisis ¡°touches all aspects of 바카라사이트 ability of institutions to operate effectively¡±: ¡°From 바카라사이트ir capacity to support 바카라사이트 human infrastructure¡­to 바카라사이트ir ability to invest with confidence in 바카라사이트 structural changes necessary to embed a culture of sustainability.¡±

Hannah Sketchley, campaigns and influencing manager at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 rising cost-of-living represented an ¡°existential threat¡± to 바카라사이트 work universities do as 바카라사이트?experiences of many students?struggling to make ends meet undermine 바카라사이트 idea that higher education is a passport to a better life.

She called for a rent freeze, a rise in wages for younger people and a review of 바카라사이트 student finance system to better support learners in difficult times.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com