In 2011, it was announced that almost all Government funding for university courses was to be dropped in time for the next academic year – a move which saw three in four UK institutions raise their fees considerably in order to meet costs.
The Science Building, Staffordshire University
As many universities now charge up to £9,000 for a single year of higher education, domestic student numbers have dropped significantly, with the National Union of Students (NUS) claiming that potential applicants from poorer backgrounds now see the three or four year courses as an expense too far.
However, for those who do choose to further their education, it seems that the facilities provided by their institution of choice are now of a higher standard than ever. Research from Wates Construction has shown that many of the UK’s top universities are continuing to invest in new buildings as the competition for students escalates nationwide.
According to the study, around a third of estates directors for UK universities rank the improvement of teaching facilities as their number one concern. This figure increases to 50 per cent when the list expands to encompass the top three priorities, showing that universities recognise the need to prove students are getting their money’s worth.
Although many have struggled since Government grants were withdrawn, the decrease in state funding has had little impact on new on-campus developments – 52 per cent of respondents were, at the time, in the process of implementing major construction projects worth £5 million or above, while 40 per cent claimed to have new projects which have commencement dates falling within the next two years.
Universities Lead at Wates Construction, Ian Vickers, claims that universities have been forced to focus more on the needs of their students since the funding cuts took effect. This, he says, largely centres on providing facilities which contain prime teaching space.
He continues; “Nowadays, estates strategies must be carefully crafted to align with students’ needs and expectations of a good, useful education that will equip them to succeed in the wider world.
“Attracting and retaining students is of paramount importance to a university’s continued financial health, and estates strategies must be geared towards addressing this fact.
“Universities are continuing to build facilities that foster innovation despite the commercial pressures upon them and the cuts to Government grants – this is encouraging for higher education and for the UK as a whole.”
While it is certainly true that facilities play a key role in the education of students, critics have argued that constructing new buildings can often be an unnecessary exercise used purely to boost enrolment in courses. They argue that existing properties could be refurbished for a lower cost, with the money saved going towards funding for post-graduate courses or even reducing tuition fees.
It seems that the universities development boom is set to continue as institutions invest increasing amounts in the competition for domestic students. However, with tuition fees reaching higher levels, it can only be hoped that there will be enough students to fill the brand new teaching spaces.
