Increased grant package for higher education in Cornwall

The University of Exeter’s government grant for teaching and research is to increase by 3.7% next year to £66.17 million. The University shares the Cornwall Campus (known as Tremough) in Penryn with University College Falmouth as well as having two campuses in Exeter.

This is the largest percentage increase of any of England’s other 30-plus research intensive universities.

The improved grant position for 2010/11 reflects the University’s recent growth and improved research performance. The research element of the funding is up by 5.5% and includes money for more research students and more research undertaken with business and industry. There is also increased funding of 15% from the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which encourages knowledge transfer from universities to business, public sector and community partners.

David Allen, the University’s Registrar and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “This is very good news for the University and for the South West as a whole. The recession has demonstrated how important strong universities are to the regional economy. This increase in our funding will help us to continue developing, despite problems in the economy as a whole. However, the government has signalled its intention to cut Higher Education funding in the years ahead, so we are expecting more challenging times to come.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I am delighted to see this vote of confidence in  one of our key partners in the Combined Universities in Cornwall. The knowledge partnerships are critical in the continued regeneration of all our local economies across the peninsula and need additional resources to deliver our collective ambitions.'

Although universities are classed as public sector organisations, the University of Exeter receives less than a third of its turnover from the government. The remainder comes from sources including tuition fees from home and international students, philanthropic donations from alumni and other supporters, catering and residence income, research, working with business and hiring out facilities for outside events such as conferences and weddings.

Since 2002 the University’s annual turnover has risen by 250% from £96 million to £241 million. Student numbers have increased during the same period from 10,700 to 15,700.

Exeter is currently ranked 9th in The Times Good University Guide.

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