Major increase in next year’s University funding

The University of Teesside will enjoy a major boost to its cash allocation for 2004-05, figures released today (Thursday 4 March, 2004) show - with the total resource allocated by Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to the University going up by 8.1% next year.

Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Teesside, said: “This represents the second highest percentage increase for an English University and will allow us to press ahead with plans to expand our foundation degree places, from the current number of just over 300 to 800.

“It is a tremendous outcome for the University of Teesside and we are particularly delighted that the latest grant settlement from HEFCE includes a significant increase in funding to support our widening participation activities. I believe this recognises our ongoing success in encouraging more people from every walk of life to come on to our courses.

“The grant allocation will not only allow us to expand our full and part-time student numbers, but it will also enable us to strengthen our links with local schools & colleges and the partnership arrangements we have with local industry and public sector organisations like the National Health Service.

“Working in partnership with local further education colleges, Teesside was one of the first universities to embrace the new two-year full time and three-year part time foundation degrees and we have made excellent progress, both in terms of student recruitment to our first courses and the commendation we received from the Quality Assurance Agency for the way we are meeting both student and employer needs.”

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