Postgraduate provision debate

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The debate over postgraduate funding has reignited this week following the release of a report by Million+, who argue that research funding shouldn't be further concentrated between fewer universities, and that to do so would "damage both the UK university sector and the economy as a whole". The report entitled '

Industry engagement 'will benefit us all'

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:30:00 GMT

It looks a good bet that when the Lord Browne review of HE funding and student finance reports later this year it will feature a call for greater industry engagement and for industry to share more of the costs of teaching the graduates they employ. In

HEFCW redistributes grant funding

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Welsh universities are facing a cut to recurrent funding next year, with the savings being split into research and widening participation, the Times Higher reports. The HEFCW recurrent grant funding letter, which will be sent to... [more]

Is smaller better?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

A recent Accountancy Age survey of 12 audit services has found that counter to what some might expect, the smaller firms topped the class. Mazars placed first, with Horwarth Clark Whitehill second, and Grant Thornton in third, in a survey that asked clients to assess the firms on five measures including... [more]

HEFCW February newsletter

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The HEFCW newsletter for February was circulated recently, and includes news on the matched funding scheme, the Assembly's Economic Renewal Programme, and the HEFCW governance review. You can download the newsletter here.

In other Welsh news, WalesOnline.com reports... [more]

More managers?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Academics at universities are being increasingly outnumbered by other staff, the FT reports. Looking at the changes in the figures since 2003, they've concluded that there has been an 33% increase in managers employed by the sector compared to a 9.9% increase in 'academic professionals' over the same... [more]

UWE opens its books

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

We've previously mentioned how and why it can be difficult for individual universities to show a true picture of the state of their affairs, but UWE appear to have done just that by 'opening their books' to the Guardian... [more]

OFFA wants to see clearer bursaries

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The independent Office for Fair Access (OFFA) have submitted a report to the Lord Browne review which calls for clearer presentation of information relating to bursaries and scholarships. The report also asks for the Browne review to give careful... [more]

Scottish Universities face student cap

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The Scottish education secretary has announced a cap on the number of students for 'STEM' subjects for the 2010 intake, the Herald reports. The large increase in applicants for Scottish universities this year tied with uncertainty over the level of funding has prompted the... [more]

Some alternative funding views

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The Times Higher reports on a couple of interesting funding ideas put forward this week to meet the demand for places. One suggestion, from Professor Green who is the v-c at Worcester, is to offer another 100,000 unfunded places to students, arguing that the reduction in the unit of resource and... [more]

Scots are not to be left out

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Two days after The Scotsman reported Professor Bernard King, Principal at Abertay University being dismissive of [English] cries that budget cuts will lead to crisis and being supportive of a debate on how Scottish mass university education should be funded,

'Crumbling' universities

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The Guardian has obtained a 'secret database' (if you're not on HEIDI) from HEFCE under a FOI request which they claim shows that 'universities are crumbling'. The database "which aims to help universities compare the condition of their estate with... [more]

UCU - increasing fees the 'lazy' option

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Last week we covered a report by the thinktank Policy Exchange called 'More Fees Please?', which suggested the government needed to raise the fees cap to allow universities to cover the shortfall in funding, providing conditions were met that ensured a... [more]

Glasgow Caledonian to open London branch

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Glasgow Caledonian University is to be the first Scottish University to open a centre in London, according to the BBC news website.

The university aims to take advantage of London's overseas student market and attract upto 300 students annually within a few years. The project "will cost a... [more]

Visas and overseas students

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

A recent announcement by the Home Office has detailed tougher visa requirements for foreign students wishing to come and study in the UK. The changes, including requirements for a higher... [more]

Lunchtime tv covers funding issue

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:30:00 GMT

For the daytime tv viewer, the BBC's lunchtime show Daily Politics is a welcome oasis in a desert of repeats and displays of socially dysfunctionality. Wednesday's programme included over 11 minutes of comment and debate on University funding in which Shirley Williams, David Willets and Ben Bradshaw were watched... [more]

Postgraduate provision debate

Industry engagement 'will benefit us all'

HEFCW redistributes grant funding

Is smaller better?

HEFCW February newsletter

More managers?

UWE opens its books

OFFA wants to see clearer bursaries

Scottish Universities face student cap

Some alternative funding views

Scots are not to be left out

'Crumbling' universities

UCU - increasing fees the 'lazy' option

Glasgow Caledonian to open London branch

Visas and overseas students

Lunchtime tv covers funding issue

BUFDG: British Universities Finance Directors Group

UK needs scientific heart to thrive

Endowment Managers buck the trend

Government HE subsidy doing 'more harm than good'

HEFCE HE Workforce Framework