Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (9 November) commented on the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) report How much is too much: cross-subsidies from teaching to research in British universities.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“MillionPlus has long called for increased investment in research and we welcome the steps the government has made to boost funding. However, the industrial strategy’s recognition of the importance of place means that a more imaginative approach to research funding is needed to avoid the hyper-concentration of resources by institution and geography. Funding research on the basis of full economic costs tends to protect historic patterns of distribution rather than incentivise the more competitive approach which is clearly needed and in which excellence is judged in the context of previous allocations and future potential.

“At a time when the right of universities to manage their own budgets is under scrutiny, universities must continue to be treated by both government and regulators as autonomous institutions operating complex business models. This means that they must retain the right to make decisions which rely on cross-subsidy whatever the income source.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts 2017
3. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk