Russell Group concerned by £600 million potential cut for universities and research

09 December 2009

Today's Pre-Budget Report has outlined £600 million of new savings to be made from higher education, science and research budgets. Expressing concern about the impact of these potentially severe cuts, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said:

“We will have to wait to see how these savings will be implemented but it is vital that the Government does not undermine the UK’s world-class research base and world-class universities.

“Now more than ever, the UK’s leading research-intensive universities have a key role to play in helping us to emerge from recession quickly. Through generating new knowledge, training a skilled workforce, and sharing innovation with industry, Russell Group universities are integral to the UK’s competitiveness.

“With these potentially severe cuts in higher education and research, and escalating global competition, sustaining the success of our leading universities will be incredibly difficult. With the squeeze on public spending likely to continue into the next Parliament, it is even more urgent that universities are allowed access to higher levels of income from sources other than the public purse.” 

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