HEFCE issued the following press release on investment needs for
teaching  and for arts & humanities research, which may be of interest
to you.....

Tom.

Tom Franklin



12 July 2001

Review of investment needs for teaching and for arts and humanities research

A new study will review what resources are needed - in terms of buildings,
equipment and staff - to support teaching and non-science research in
universities and colleges.

The review has been commissioned by The Higher Education Funding Council for
England (HEFCE), in collaboration with Universities UK and the Standing
Conference of Principals (SCOP). It will complement a similar project by the
Office of Science and Technology (OST) looking at investment in the
infrastructure to support science research in higher education. Both studies
are being carried out by J M Consulting Ltd, and both will report in
November 2001.

Sir Brian Fender, Chief Executive of the HEFCE, said: 'Attention has been
given and is being given to the infrastructure needs of science research,
but less work has been done to address those of non-scientific subjects.
This important study will give us a balanced assessment of the state of the
higher education infrastructure and guide our future funding policies.'

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: 'We know higher
education institutions need investment in their teaching infrastructure
across the board. The arts and humanities feed into the fastest growing
economic sector in the UK - the creative industries. The facilities they
need - computers, library access, and the opportunity to exchange knowledge
and pass it on - are of vital importance to the nation's economic and
cultural growth. The study will produce crucial evidence for the
Government's next funding review.'

'I am delighted that this study is being commissioned,' said Professor David
Eastwood, Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board. 'There
is widespread concern in the arts and humanities that high quality teaching
and research are being threatened by continued under-investment in essential
infrastructure. This review should establish the scale of the funding
problem and provide an authoritative basis for action.'

Notes to editors

1.      'Infrastructure' includes buildings, equipment, libraries, learning
resources, IT, and the staff required to manage and maintain them.

2.      The Transparency Review, which began in 1999, has indicated possible
deficits in investment in infrastructure. The study will build upon this
information, using case studies in different types of institution. The study
will address four main policy issues:

*       assessing the adequacy of the infrastructure
*       identifying the scale of any funding gap
*       identifying and evaluating factors influencing investment decisions
*       drawing out lessons for the future.

3.      During the study, the consultants will be arranging discussions with
institutions and representative groups in HE about these issues. Any
organisations which wish to make comments or to submit evidence separately
from this are invited to do so to by contacting John Rushforth at the HEFCE
([log in to unmask]).

Press inquiries to Philip Walker on 0117 931 7363.