Commenting on the HEFCE Grant Letter and Science & Research Allocations Booklet published today, University Alliance Chief Executive Maddalaine Ansell said:
“Overall today’s announcements will support universities in meeting the Government’s aims by increasing productivity and driving innovation and growth.
“Ministers’ backing for the dual support system by maintaining vital Quality Related (QR) funding is excellent news, as this allows our universities to make strategic investments in growth areas, recognising excellence wherever it exists.
“The government’s decision to maintain the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) is the right one, ensuring knowledge generated within our institutions continues to make a real-world difference for businesses, particularly SMEs, in driving productivity gains.
“We also welcome the decision to maintain support for high-cost subjects, although within this budget it is crucial that adequate provision is made for student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in light of the changes the government has made in this area.
“There are real concerns that halving Student Opportunity Funding will make it far more difficult to meet the Prime Minister’s ambitious targets on widening participation, therefore we are pleased that the remaining allocation will be targeted at institutions which do the heavy lifting on both access and retention.”
