The Universities View from the Battlements Robert Van de Noort Subject Committee for Archaeology (SCFA)

The Universities’ View from The Universities’ View from the Battlementsthe Battlements

Robert Van de NoortRobert Van de Noort

Subject Committee for Archaeology (SCFA)Subject Committee for Archaeology (SCFA)

Outline:Outline:

•IntroductionIntroduction

•Changes in fundingChanges in funding

•Implications for Archaeology DepartmentsImplications for Archaeology Departments

•Opportunities and challengesOpportunities and challenges

•ConclusionsConclusions

Outline:Outline:






Introduction (I)Introduction (I)

• 40 HEIs teach archaeology/heritage40 HEIs teach archaeology/heritage

•26 ‘research active’ departments with over 500 active 26 ‘research active’ departments with over 500 active researchersresearchers

•600 new undergraduate entrants600 new undergraduate entrants

•Over 3000 students at all levels including Over 3000 students at all levels including International studentsInternational students

Introduction (II)Introduction (II)

•Funding for teaching: Funding for teaching: £5,136 (HEFC(E) T-grant for C band students) £5,136 (HEFC(E) T-grant for C band students) £3,290£3,290 top-up fees top-up fees £8,426£8,426

•International students = c £12,000/yearInternational students = c £12,000/year

•HEFCE Q-R for research = c. £15,000/academicHEFCE Q-R for research = c. £15,000/academic

•Plus grant income from Research Councils, charities Plus grant income from Research Councils, charities (e.g. Welcome and Leverhulme Trust), and other (e.g. Welcome and Leverhulme Trust), and other sources including consultancysources including consultancy

Introduction (III)Introduction (III)

•Total income (all estimated):Total income (all estimated):£17.5 m for Home/EU students£17.5 m for Home/EU students 12.5 m for International students 12.5 m for International students 7.5 m for research (Q-R) 7.5 m for research (Q-R) 20.0 m20.0 m research income (all sources) research income (all sources)£57.5 m TOTAL£57.5 m TOTAL

Outline:Outline:






Changes in funding 2011-12:Changes in funding 2011-12:

• Real-term 4% reduction in HEFCE T-grant Real-term 4% reduction in HEFCE T-grant (following a 3.5% reduction in 2010-11)(following a 3.5% reduction in 2010-11)

• Real-term 3% reduction in Q-RReal-term 3% reduction in Q-R

•real-term 3% reduction in research council grantsreal-term 3% reduction in research council grants

•Limits to the number of international students Limits to the number of international students imposed by UKBA on behalf of the UK Governmentimposed by UKBA on behalf of the UK Government

Changes in funding 2012-onwardsChanges in funding 2012-onwards

• Student fee between £6,000 and £9,000Student fee between £6,000 and £9,000

• Real-term 3% reduction in Q-RReal-term 3% reduction in Q-R

• Real-term 3% reduction in research council grantsReal-term 3% reduction in research council grants

• Limits to the number of international studentsLimits to the number of international students

Outline:Outline:






Implications for archaeology departments (I)Implications for archaeology departments (I)

• £9,000 student fee £9,000 student fee - £ 900- £ 900 widening participation (WP) premium widening participation (WP) premium£8,100 income per student/year£8,100 income per student/year

= a reduction of £326 student/year= a reduction of £326 student/year

• current cost of teaching = £7,827 student/year current cost of teaching = £7,827 student/year (source: TRAC T SubjectFACTS 2009-10)(source: TRAC T SubjectFACTS 2009-10)

Implications for archaeology departments (II)Implications for archaeology departments (II)

• combined effect of HEFCE T & R reductions, combined effect of HEFCE T & R reductions, reduction of grants from research councils and UKBA reduction of grants from research councils and UKBA impact on international students:impact on international students:

10% loss in real terms by 201410% loss in real terms by 2014

Outline:Outline:






ChallengesChallenges

•Student expectation: 3 times more fees but not 3 Student expectation: 3 times more fees but not 3 times more funds for teachingtimes more funds for teaching

•Employability of Archaeology students: c. 15% Employability of Archaeology students: c. 15% below ‘competitor subjects’ (e.g. History, Classics, below ‘competitor subjects’ (e.g. History, Classics, Geography)Geography)

•A –levels; c. 50 tariff points below ‘competitor A –levels; c. 50 tariff points below ‘competitor subjects’subjects’

•Master’s programmes and the absence of fundingMaster’s programmes and the absence of funding

•Student numbersStudent numbers

•Relative high cost of the Archaeology degreeRelative high cost of the Archaeology degree

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Student application to Archaeology 1996-2010 (UCAS)

SubjectSubject Cost of teaching Cost of teaching (from TRAC)(from TRAC)

New fees after New fees after WP deduction WP deduction

Surplus Surplus potentialpotential

History/ History/ ClassicsClassics

£5,503£5,503 £8,100£8,100 £2,597£2,597

Business Business studiesstudies

£5,530£5,530 £8,100£8,100 £2,570£2,570

GeographyGeography £6,135£6,135 £8,100£8,100 £1,965£1,965

ArchaeologyArchaeology £7,827£7,827 £8,100£8,100 £273£273

Cost of Archaeology degree and surplus potential

Opportunities (I)Opportunities (I)

•Archaeology’s International reputation and the Archaeology’s International reputation and the (de-)value of the £(de-)value of the £

•‘‘Progressive’ nature of the new fees’ structure Progressive’ nature of the new fees’ structure (student loans are a salary sacrifice, not a debt)(student loans are a salary sacrifice, not a debt)

•Universities (through SCFA and the CBA) to work Universities (through SCFA and the CBA) to work more actively with A-Level Archaeology providers more actively with A-Level Archaeology providers

Opportunities (II)Opportunities (II)

•Emerging alignment of:Emerging alignment of:

•Knowledge transfer/exchange activityKnowledge transfer/exchange activity

•Research Excellence Framework’s impact agendaResearch Excellence Framework’s impact agenda

•Planning Policy Statement 5/National Heritage Planning Policy Statement 5/National Heritage Planning FrameworkPlanning Framework

•... which should lead to closer research collaboration ... which should lead to closer research collaboration in the sector and a reinvigoration in the public’s in the sector and a reinvigoration in the public’s interest in archaeology (cf Southport Group report) interest in archaeology (cf Southport Group report)

Outline:Outline:






ConclusionsConclusions

•To date, the HE environment has been (relatively) To date, the HE environment has been (relatively) protected from the economic downturnprotected from the economic downturn

•Rapid and far-reaching changes will follow the Rapid and far-reaching changes will follow the withdrawal of public funds for Archaeology education withdrawal of public funds for Archaeology education at HEIsat HEIs

•Research collaboration and (re-)engagement of the Research collaboration and (re-)engagement of the wider public will provide opportunities for growth wider public will provide opportunities for growth

Documents

The Universities View from the Battlements Robert Van de Noort Subject Committee for Archaeology (SCFA)