This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8427546.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| University funding cut by £398m | University funding cut by £398m |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The government is to cut university funding in England by a total of £398m for 2010-11 compared with this year, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said. | The government is to cut university funding in England by a total of £398m for 2010-11 compared with this year, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said. |
| In a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council For England (Hefce), he also asks universities to protect quality and access to higher education. | In a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council For England (Hefce), he also asks universities to protect quality and access to higher education. |
| His letter confirms efficiency savings of £180m and £83m - and adds a further £135m budget reduction. | His letter confirms efficiency savings of £180m and £83m - and adds a further £135m budget reduction. |
| The Tories said they would make another 10,000 university places available. | The Tories said they would make another 10,000 university places available. |
| The government also wants to see more degrees completed over two years rather than three as a way of easing the funding crisis and to broaden education to a wider range of students. | The government also wants to see more degrees completed over two years rather than three as a way of easing the funding crisis and to broaden education to a wider range of students. |
| TWO-YEAR DEGREES Fast-track degrees are accelerated honours courses, announced in 2003, which have been tried in eight English universities. | |
| Staffordshire, for example, has some 200 students - out of a total of 17,000 - taking two-year courses in accounting and finance, business management, English, geography and law. | |
| Students do the same amount of work as on a three-year degree but rather than break for the summer, use the summer vacation periods as an extra term. | |
| The courses suit people such as mature students whose priority is obtaining a vocational qualification rather than having the full-blown undergraduate experience involving being away from home for the first time. | |
| They mean a saving in fees and living expenses, though with less opportunity to work to raise money. | |
| For the government there are savings in the financial support students get in the form of grants and loans (loans are repaid but over many years, and have to be funded in advance). | |
| But they cause financial problems for universities. | |
| The pilot projects had extra funding to support their development. But they had to provide a three-year syllabus in return for two years' tuition fees and two-and-a-half years' equivalent in Hefce funding. | |
| There were organisational and infrastructure implications - such as extending the opening hours of student support and accommodation, library and information services. | |
| And staffing issues were central, partly in engaging with academics who were resistant to the idea - who could be side-stepped in a pilot programme but whose attitudes would have to be changed if it were to be expanded. | |
| These Foundation and Fast-track degrees tend to appeal to those doing more vocational subjects such as engineering and law. | These Foundation and Fast-track degrees tend to appeal to those doing more vocational subjects such as engineering and law. |
| The new reduced allocations are £84m taken from the capital funding budget, and £51m from teaching. | The new reduced allocations are £84m taken from the capital funding budget, and £51m from teaching. |
| Among the £398m cuts, which were earlier incorrectly reported as being £533m, a promised £109m increase in research funding is maintained. | Among the £398m cuts, which were earlier incorrectly reported as being £533m, a promised £109m increase in research funding is maintained. |
| But Lord Mandelson also says some universities have recruited more students than they should have - so asks the Hefce to claw back £3,700 per student where this has happened, to cover the costs of their financial support. | But Lord Mandelson also says some universities have recruited more students than they should have - so asks the Hefce to claw back £3,700 per student where this has happened, to cover the costs of their financial support. |
| Lord Mandelson's letter makes it clear that last year's U-turn on extra student numbers was a one-off "responding to the particular needs of the time" - that will not be repeated in 2010-11. | Lord Mandelson's letter makes it clear that last year's U-turn on extra student numbers was a one-off "responding to the particular needs of the time" - that will not be repeated in 2010-11. |
| There was a public outcry about the numbers who would not get places, especially when more people wanted to go to university. | There was a public outcry about the numbers who would not get places, especially when more people wanted to go to university. |
| The popularity of higher education has been attributed in part to the lack of alternatives in the recession. | The popularity of higher education has been attributed in part to the lack of alternatives in the recession. |
| Shadow universities and skills secretary, David Willetts, said of the over-recruitment penalties: "We now have the bizarre situation that universities are being fined for meeting targets set by this government. | Shadow universities and skills secretary, David Willetts, said of the over-recruitment penalties: "We now have the bizarre situation that universities are being fined for meeting targets set by this government. |
| "This year as a combination of a demographic bulge and the recession, more young people wished to attend university. | "This year as a combination of a demographic bulge and the recession, more young people wished to attend university. |
| "Unlike the government we don't believe in artificial targets. Our view is that higher education should be available to all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so." | "Unlike the government we don't believe in artificial targets. Our view is that higher education should be available to all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so." |
| Severe pressure | Severe pressure |
| He said a Conservative government would offer an additional 10,000 more, fully-funded, university places to enable more young people to enter university next year. | He said a Conservative government would offer an additional 10,000 more, fully-funded, university places to enable more young people to enter university next year. |
| The vice-chancellors' organisation Universities UK said the higher education sector understood the current pressures on public spending and was playing a key role in tackling many of the long-term challenges facing the economy. | The vice-chancellors' organisation Universities UK said the higher education sector understood the current pressures on public spending and was playing a key role in tackling many of the long-term challenges facing the economy. |
| But these cuts would put universities in England under severe pressure. | But these cuts would put universities in England under severe pressure. |
| "We will need to clarify urgently whether these cuts form part of the £600m reductions identified in the recent pre-Budget report," said its president, Professor Steve Smith. | "We will need to clarify urgently whether these cuts form part of the £600m reductions identified in the recent pre-Budget report," said its president, Professor Steve Smith. |
| "A reduction in the public funding per student could seriously threaten our ability to offer the high-quality experience our students deserve and expect." | "A reduction in the public funding per student could seriously threaten our ability to offer the high-quality experience our students deserve and expect." |
| And he noted that it was the rising cost of student support in the recession that was causing much of the funding squeeze - making the ongoing Browne review of student finance all the more important. | And he noted that it was the rising cost of student support in the recession that was causing much of the funding squeeze - making the ongoing Browne review of student finance all the more important. |
| Is it a good idea to complete some degrees in two years? Send us your views | Is it a good idea to complete some degrees in two years? Send us your views |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |