The FT reports that “Lord Mandelson yesterday cut another £135m from next year’s settlement for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It comes on top of reductions already announced, including a £180m cut, meant to be met through “efficiency savings”, that was announced in the Budget. In all, higher education’s funding will be £518m lower next year, a reduction of almost 7 per cent on this year’s £7.8bn expenditure”.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/af66efce-ef24-11de-86c4-00144feab49a.html?catid=2&SID=google
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said “This is shocking news for students and staff. These cuts will do long-term damage to our economy. A quality higher education sector is what this country needs to keep competitive in the global economy. HE is the engine that will drive us out of the recession, and this is not the time to make drastic cuts. UNISON will be seeking urgent meetings with the Government to stop these damaging plans going ahead.”
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1681
Teachers’ union UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The HEFCE grant letter is a real Christmas kick in the teeth for staff and students and final proof that the government has completely lost its way when it comes to higher education. You cannot make these kinds of cuts and expect no consequences. We will see teachers on the dole, students in larger classes and a higher education sector unable to contribute as much to the economy or society. How all that marries up with a government that is pioneering a university sector more reliant on student feedback is beyond me.”
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4363