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| University budget cuts revealed | University budget cuts revealed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| England's university budgets are being cut by £449m, leading student places to be reduced by an estimated 6,000 in the next academic year. | England's university budgets are being cut by £449m, leading student places to be reduced by an estimated 6,000 in the next academic year. |
| Teaching budgets are being reduced by £215m, a cut in real terms of 1.6% on 2009-10 levels, says the Higher Education Funding Council for England. | Teaching budgets are being reduced by £215m, a cut in real terms of 1.6% on 2009-10 levels, says the Higher Education Funding Council for England. |
| Research funding is being frozen, while the buildings budget is cut by 15%. | Research funding is being frozen, while the buildings budget is cut by 15%. |
| Student leaders say this "amounts to national self-harm" - while ministers say universities are "scaremongering". | Student leaders say this "amounts to national self-harm" - while ministers say universities are "scaremongering". |
| National Union of Students leader, Wes Streeting, says the cuts threaten "irreversible damage" to higher education. | National Union of Students leader, Wes Streeting, says the cuts threaten "irreversible damage" to higher education. |
| 'Testing times' | 'Testing times' |
| "In spite of protestations to the contrary, the cuts being imposed by the government are going to hit teaching, research and the number of places available at a time of record demand," said Mr Streeting. | "In spite of protestations to the contrary, the cuts being imposed by the government are going to hit teaching, research and the number of places available at a time of record demand," said Mr Streeting. |
| SPENDING ON UNIVERSITIES Finland 1.6%Sweden 1.4%France 1.1%United States 1%Germany 0.9%UK 0.9%Poland 0.9%Spain 0.9%Italy 0.7%Japan 0.5% Source: OECD, public spending on higher education as percentage of GDP. Most recent figures 2006. | SPENDING ON UNIVERSITIES Finland 1.6%Sweden 1.4%France 1.1%United States 1%Germany 0.9%UK 0.9%Poland 0.9%Spain 0.9%Italy 0.7%Japan 0.5% Source: OECD, public spending on higher education as percentage of GDP. Most recent figures 2006. |
| "Singling out universities for cuts of this kind seems to me to be an extraordinary act of self harm by the government." | "Singling out universities for cuts of this kind seems to me to be an extraordinary act of self harm by the government." |
| Funding council chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, said these were "testing times", but that higher education had seen substantial growth over the past decade. | Funding council chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, said these were "testing times", but that higher education had seen substantial growth over the past decade. |
| But his statisticians estimate the funding package translates to a reduction in student places in England of about 6,000 on 2009-10 levels. | But his statisticians estimate the funding package translates to a reduction in student places in England of about 6,000 on 2009-10 levels. |
| The pressures come as universities face unprecedented demand for places - with some institutions reporting increases in applications of more than 20%. | The pressures come as universities face unprecedented demand for places - with some institutions reporting increases in applications of more than 20%. |
| Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, has warned that more than 200,000 applicants could be left without a place this summer. | Steve Smith, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, has warned that more than 200,000 applicants could be left without a place this summer. |
| Professor Smith said the funding details "indicate that the cuts are even deeper than expected". | Professor Smith said the funding details "indicate that the cuts are even deeper than expected". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY This is wasting talent needed for an efficient and successful economy and it's extremely short-sighted.Andy, Camberley Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY This is wasting talent needed for an efficient and successful economy and it's extremely short-sighted.Andy, Camberley Send us your comments |
| The biggest saving will be in teaching - with next year's allocation of £4.7bn representing a decrease of 1.6% in real terms, compared with this year and nearly 5% less than what had been expected. | |
| Research spending has been maintained - with £1.6bn to be allocated next year. | Research spending has been maintained - with £1.6bn to be allocated next year. |
| Capital spending will be £562m, a reduction of almost 15%. | Capital spending will be £562m, a reduction of almost 15%. |
| Universities are expected to receive their individual budgets next month. | Universities are expected to receive their individual budgets next month. |
| Rising demand | Rising demand |
| The biggest rises in applications have been reported by new universities - and Pam Tatlow, chief executive of their representative group, Million+, has highlighted the concerns about the limit on places. | The biggest rises in applications have been reported by new universities - and Pam Tatlow, chief executive of their representative group, Million+, has highlighted the concerns about the limit on places. |
| "It's not just that we're being capped at this level, but it's the fact that demand has risen because of the recession and the number of 18-year-olds has gone up," she said. | "It's not just that we're being capped at this level, but it's the fact that demand has risen because of the recession and the number of 18-year-olds has gone up," she said. |
| Paul Marshall of the 1994 Group of research intensive universities said the funding cuts seemed "incompatible" with the government's ambitions for higher education. | Paul Marshall of the 1994 Group of research intensive universities said the funding cuts seemed "incompatible" with the government's ambitions for higher education. |
| Speaking for the Russell Group of leading universities, Wendy Piatt, said there was a recognition "that universities will have to bear their fair share of any cuts". | Speaking for the Russell Group of leading universities, Wendy Piatt, said there was a recognition "that universities will have to bear their fair share of any cuts". |
| But she said that after this "belt tightening" the government needed "to confirm that there will be no further cuts". | But she said that after this "belt tightening" the government needed "to confirm that there will be no further cuts". |
| Higher Education Minister for England, Mr Lammy, said the savings were relatively small and that he was confident that Hefce could achieve these in a way that "minimises the impact on teaching". | Higher Education Minister for England, Mr Lammy, said the savings were relatively small and that he was confident that Hefce could achieve these in a way that "minimises the impact on teaching". |
| He said: "Investment in higher education has gone up by 25% since 1997. Next year there will be more students at university than every before in our history." | He said: "Investment in higher education has gone up by 25% since 1997. Next year there will be more students at university than every before in our history." |
| He said that university entrance had always been competitive and added that the ratio of lecturers to students was better today than it was five years ago. | He said that university entrance had always been competitive and added that the ratio of lecturers to students was better today than it was five years ago. |
| Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said the government's target to get half of young people into university was proving to be "empty rhetoric" and that record numbers of bright young people would be turned away this summer. | Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams said the government's target to get half of young people into university was proving to be "empty rhetoric" and that record numbers of bright young people would be turned away this summer. |
| These funding proposals apply to England - but there are other funding changes ahead elsewhere. | These funding proposals apply to England - but there are other funding changes ahead elsewhere. |
| In Northern Ireland, there is to be an increase in recurrent funding - but a cut in capital spending. | In Northern Ireland, there is to be an increase in recurrent funding - but a cut in capital spending. |
| The Scottish Funding Council is to announce its budget for universities in March. | The Scottish Funding Council is to announce its budget for universities in March. |
| In Wales, the funding council has been asked to provide details of actions, measures and timelines for delivering a review of higher education in Wales by spring 2010. | In Wales, the funding council has been asked to provide details of actions, measures and timelines for delivering a review of higher education in Wales by spring 2010. |