General Assembly 1996

HEFCE and TTA grants for 1996/7

			 1994/5		 1995/6		 1996/7		% 95/6 to 96/7
Teaching funds		20,694,743	19,731,078	19,706,304	 -0.13%
Research funds		 8,742,287	 8,644,100	 8,764,421	  1.39%	
Non-consolidated	   317,734	   507,096	   215,639	-57.48%
Non-formula		   358,248	   229,676	   211,667	 -7.84%
Total recurrent		30,113,012	29,111,950	28,898,031	 -0.73%
Capital			 2,943,072	 2,985,009	 1,926,151	-35.47%
Total HEFCE		33,056,084	32,096,959	30,824,182	 -3.97%

Teacher Training			 1,647,062	 1,624,397	 -1.38%

Grand Total		33,056,084	33,744,021	32,448,579	 -3.84%

A joint meeting supported by the University, the campus unions and Loughborough Students' Union will be held in LSU at 6.15 pm on Monday 20 May, to discuss and publicise the impact of cuts in Government funding.

The University's budget for 1996/7

• Last year, we held central services (except for Library, Flexible Learning and the Research Committee budget) overall constant in cash terms (i.e. same cash in 1995/6 as in 1994/5). Departments increased by more than 5% (including supplementation), so that overall the academic departments are in balance.
• This year HEFCE funding is cut almost 7% in real terms (see previous section).
• Deans have joined budgetary review group this year.
• The cut in HEFCE funding will be met in part by reducing in 1996/7 the planned transfer to the capital building programme and phasing the Engineering building.
• Budgetary Review Group has confirmed 1996/7 budgets for central services which are again overall constant in cash terms, a real-terms reduction of around 6% over the two years.
• Further work is needed, but it is hoped that the cut in FRASL budget to academic departments can be held to at most 2% in real terms.

Research Assessment: preparations for the next RAE in 1996

The University's reputation in research is vital for the recruitment and retention of high quality academic staff, and the quality of research which we 'deliver to the customer' (our peers, the Research Councils, the British Academy, Industry etc) is what that reputation is founded on.

Nevertheless, the University receives c. £8.3M from HEFCE for Research, and RAE grades are one of the key indicators used externally. It is important that we increase the number of departments at grades 4 and 5, reflecting strong national and international significance, with all departments achieving a minimum of grade 3a or 3b. We have been making a series of strategic Chair appointments to help us achieve that.

We must therefore prepare thoroughly for the RAE, and the pilot exercise which is now largely competed will be a great help for that. The rules of the Subject Panels will be known in December this year, and the returns are required by the 1st of April 1996.

Buildings Plan: an update

• Tennis centre completed with 75% external funding
• New sports hall scheduled for completion this summer
• Business School/Economics Building: tenders now received
• Central site re-allocation: plans in hand
• Engineering building: phase move of AAETS and Manufacturing Engineering
• Swimming pool: decision on lottery funding delayed by British Academy of Sport