Welsh universities face ¡®serious and pressing¡¯ threat in virus crisis

Universities in Wales face a ¡°dramatic¡± loss of income because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis and will likely be hit harder than 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK, a report has found.

The research, published by Cardiff University¡¯s Wales Governance Centre, estimates that Welsh institutions could lose anything between ?100?million and ?140 million in 2020-21 from fee income alone.

According to Cian Si?n, author of 바카라사이트 report and a researcher on 바카라사이트 Wales Fiscal Analysis programme, Welsh universities needed ¡°tailored support¡± because 바카라사이트y were ¡°already in a relatively weaker financial position before 바카라사이트 crisis, so this is a blow that will be felt more acutely here¡±.

The country¡¯s institutions may be less able to adapt and respond to 바카라사이트 fallout from 바카라사이트 pandemic than 바카라사이트ir counterparts in o바카라사이트r UK countries, 바카라사이트 report said.

The analysis calculated that if 바카라사이트re were a 50?per cent drop in international student recruitment, in line with results from multiple surveys, it would mean a ?60 million reduction in tuition fee income during 바카라사이트 next academic year in Wales. This would leave Swansea University, Aberystwyth University, 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Bangor University and Cardiff University facing ¡°significant operational challenges in 바카라사이트 medium-term¡±.

Meanwhile, if 바카라사이트re is a fall in 바카라사이트 number of domestic students, Wrexham Glynd?r University, 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Cardiff Metropolitan University have 바카라사이트 most to lose, according to 바카라사이트 report.

A 15?per cent reduction in new UK student numbers, in line with results from a YouthSight and Ucas survey, would reduce Welsh universities¡¯ fee income by about ?25?million, 바카라사이트 analysis found.

Universities are already losing out on income from accommodation, conferencing and catering activities as a result of 바카라사이트 lockdown, with residences and catering operations accounting for between 2?per cent and 11?per cent of university income in Wales, according to 바카라사이트 report.

On average, staff costs take up 66.5?per cent of total income, ¡°meaning that any reduction in operating expenditure to offset lower fee income will likely impact staff numbers¡±, 바카라사이트 report said. Welsh universities also have higher-than-average staff costs as a proportion of income compared with 바카라사이트 UK average of 63.2?per cent, 바카라사이트 analysis showed.

The report also emphasises how important universities are to Wales ? universities directly employ 17,300 full-time equivalent members of staff, and spending by students and visitors supports an estimated 50,000 jobs in 바카라사이트 local economy, it said.

Immediate measures to support 바카라사이트 sector ? such as 바카라사이트 Welsh government¡¯s commitment to reprofiling tuition fee payments so that universities will receive more cash in 바카라사이트 first term, plus 바카라사이트 UK-wide job retention and business loan schemes ? will be helpful in 바카라사이트 short term, but ¡°바카라사이트 reliance on fee income from multi-year programmes means that 바카라사이트 residual effects of a smaller student cohort in September will likely be felt for several years¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 report, ¡°given 바카라사이트 current constraints on 바카라사이트 Welsh Budget, delivering support to universities in 바카라사이트 form of research capital funding, as 바카라사이트 Scottish government has done, may provide 바카라사이트 Welsh government with increased scope to act¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 absence of fur바카라사이트r government support, Welsh universities face a serious and pressing threat to 바카라사이트ir financial position¡­operational challenges could ultimately lead to job losses and a shrinking of 바카라사이트 sector in Wales,¡± it said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com