Commenting on today’s letter from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), announcing higher education funding for 2010/11 and 2011/12, Andy Westwood, CEO of GuildHE, said:

“When the Department for Business and Skills released the grant letter to HEFCE before Christmas, GuildHE warned that major cuts to funding coupled with the transition to a dramatically different and untested system would present significant risks.

“The cuts BIS has made to the sector come at a time when the contribution of universities to local and national economies is more critical than ever. It is particularly challenging and perhaps counterproductive, for institutions to have to focus on such cuts when they should be actively supporting economic growth.

“Planning for the effective introduction of the new regime of graduate-led contributions and a more market orientated system in 2012 is also jeopardised.

“HEFCE have allocated these reduced funds in the fairest and most practical way. We have confidence that HEFCE will continue to support all institutions to ensure the smoothest possible transition to the new system in 2012.”

For more information and comment, please contact:

Andy Westwood
Tel: 020 7387 7711
Mobile: 07909 960033
Email: andy.westwood@guildhe.ac.uk

Notes to editors
1. GuildHE is a recognised higher education representative body. Its 32 members are among the most dynamic and fastest-growing institutions in the sector. For a list of GuildHE institutions, please click here

2. The Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) letter outlining higher education funding for 2010/11 and 2011/12 is available at: https://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/circlets/2011/cl05_11/