Broadcast: News items

A circular from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to universities on 1 February confirms the level of government cuts announced in December and sets out in broad terms how it will be distributing the monies allocated to it by government. 

This is not therefore an announcement of a new "cut" in resources. HEFCE has released this information now to help universities to plan for the 2010-11 financial year, in the run-up to the specific funding allocation to Sussex and to other universities in March. 

The specific implications for Sussex will not be known until that grant letter arrives. However, the Director of Finance, Allan Spencer, said: "We would expect the funding for Sussex to be consistent with the significant three-year reduction in public spending that we have built in to our plans." 

He added: "The government's announcement in December (which is the one that actually set out the overall spending framework) confirmed that we were right to be looking at year-on-year reductions in funding for higher education." 

"We have always been planning on the basis of reductions in public funding from government. And this detail from HEFCE simply confirms that we have been right to take this approach. 

"Our strategy is based on the need to grow income from sources other then HEFCE, and to make targeted reductions in specific areas that cost more than they earn." 

Neither HEFCE nor the government have indicated how funds in 2011-12 and 2012-13 will be distributed. Those funds will be allocated to higher education under a newly elected government after this year's general election. 

"Whichever party or combination of parties is then in power, we would expect continuing reductions in public funds," says the Director of Finance, "as there has been no indication from any party that protecting higher education funding is their priority."