Russell Group response to HEFCE recurrent grant
05 March 2009
Responding to the publication of the HEFCE recurrent grants for universities and colleges for 2009-10, Director General of the Russell Group, Dr Wendy Piatt, said:
“The 2008 RAE results demonstrated the great strength of research and innovation across a broad range of disciplines at Russell Group universities (1). Today’s announcement shows that Russell Group universities remain the UK’s leading research universities, including the top 15 institutions in England based on HEFCE quality related research funding. Our institutions will continue to drive the UK’s reputation for high-quality research and continue to bring considerable economic and social benefits to the UK.
“Now, more than ever, our research-intensive universities have a crucial role to play in helping the UK survive the economic downturn and stimulate a recovery, and it is vital that they are given the right conditions to continue to flourish. World-class universities, with their heavy concentration of brainpower, established excellence, and the sheer numbers and facilities to achieve global impact, are best placed to attract investment and drive innovation with leading global companies.
“However our universities continue to be subject to some extremely difficult economic conditions with income streams under threat, costs increasing and international competition escalating, particularly as our competitors continue to make substantial investments in their universities. In the current climate there is likely to be increased pressure on finances, with vital income from charities and business squeezed; revenue from international students volatile, and costs for people, energy and borrowing soaring.
“This settlement does not go far enough for many of our leading research-intensive universities to meet these tough challenges.”
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Notes:
1. An analysis of the results of the RAE 2008 show that while the Russell Group represents only 12% of all universities, over 60% of all ‘world leading’ or 4* rated research is undertaken at Russell Group universities. http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/2008/russell-group-welcomes-outstanding-rae-results.html
2. This announcement relates to English universities only