As higher education faces its most brutal funding cuts in history, Yorkshire’s universities have issued a warning that the contribution the sector makes to the region’s communities, students and economy could be seriously damaged.
Leaks in the media ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance suggest that higher education will suffer at least a 25% funding cut, with student fees rising to as much as £10,000 a year and popular areas like arts and humanities receiving no public funding at all.
Professor Roger Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Yorkshire Universities – which represents the 11 universities and 3 higher education institutions in Yorkshire and the Humber – warns that a significant reduction in public funding for higher education means moving to a model where funding is primarily provided by the student.
Professor Lewis said: “Universities in Yorkshire offer an unequalled choice of subjects which is one of the reasons the region has such an excellent reputation for world class research and why we attract top quality students.
“However, there is a very real danger that the balance of subjects will change with a narrowing focus on science, technology, engineering and maths. This will have a particular impact on home-based students, narrowing the choices available to people who are not able to travel outside their region to study at university.”
Professor Lewis points out that the Yorkshire's higher education institutions boost the regional economy to the tune of £3.68bn and play a critical role in generating jobs, creating innovation and driving enterprise. He added: “Yorkshire’s universities are crucial to future prosperity and competitiveness of the region; they work with the private and public sectors to create new markets and tackle global challenges through knowledge and expertise.
“The cuts will not only compromise the quality of higher education and impact on the lives and aspirations of future generations but will directly compromise income and job creation for Yorkshire.”