Leading universities sound alarm over UK research
pharmafile | February 2, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | Jobs, Pfizer, Sandwich, universities
Cuts to government funding for research in universities have been condemned by the UK’s top centres of learning.
The government has told universities that they face £940m of cuts, including a 66% cut in the science budget for investments in capital.
The final budget shows that in 2011-12 universities will face a 9.5% cut compared with 2010-11 – including a 6% cut to teaching budgets and 4% to research.
But the government has protected a key science innovation fund of £113m.
Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of universities said the news was a blow, coming as it did on the back of Pfizer’s decision to close its UK research centre.
“We recognise that during this period of ongoing economic stringency that universities should bear their fair share of cuts, said Dr Piatt. “But in the same week as UK R&D has been hit by the closure of the Pfizer facility in Kent, these new cuts will make it even harder for our top universities and researchers to lead the economic recovery.”
She added: “Many of our competitors are pumping billions into research and higher education, and our leading universities are already under-resourced in comparison with our international competitors. Maintaining the quality of the England’s world-class universities is essential if the country is to work and think its way back to economic growth.”
“We welcome the protection of the science budget in cash terms in the spending review and the emphasis on excellence. We also support the Government’s HEIF (funding for innovation and knowledge transfer) reforms, which will focus on performance and incentivise the very best institutions.
“But in addition to the cuts in research, we are also concerned that cuts to capital spend will prove particularly detrimental, creating real and long-term difficulties for UK universities. World-class infrastructure, particularly buildings and equipment, is needed to facilitate the very best environment for research and teaching.
“In the current economic conditions, it is particularly important to invest limited funds in the places where they will have the greatest impact. Our world-class, research-intensive universities have the excellence, critical mass and multi-disciplinary capacity to compete globally. It is important that the Government does not try to spread limited funds too thinly particularly in postgraduate funding.
In order to make up the shortfalls, universities will be permitted to increase their student fees from autumn 2012. The leading research centres such as Oxford, Cambridge and UCL in London expected to raise their fees up to the maximum level of £9,000.
Dr Wendy Piatt concluded: “We now know universities will be permitted to increase their fees from autumn 2012, but today’s cuts will reduce the resources available to us to teach students who are already at university, and those who will start their courses next year.
She added that the 54% cut in teaching capital would make it very difficult for UK universities to achieve their goal of sustaining a world-class learning experience for students.
“The indicative cuts to teaching funding for 2012-13 highlight just how important recent parliamentary votes were in providing essential funding to replace these losses, albeit via increased fees and graduate contributions. Without that income, it would have been impossible to maintain the world-class quality of our courses.”
Another university interest body, the 1994 Group, which is composed of 19 leading research universities also commented.
Paul Marshall, 1994 Group Executive Director, said: It’s becoming increasingly clear that the cuts it details are likely to bring about a rough ride for the UK economy.
He added: “Taking £45m away from next year’s research budget sends out worrying signals, particularly in light of Pfizer’s decision to close a major UK facility. University research plays a massive role in driving innovation and attracting companies to the UK. If the Government does not continue to back it the 2,400 lost Pfizer jobs could be just the tip of the iceberg.”
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