DORSET’S universities remain positive over reports that cuts in government funding could reach 20 per cent.
A contingency plan to slash funding by a fifth has allegedly been drawn up to anticipate general cuts in public spending.
The news comes as both Bournemouth University and the Arts University College at Bournemouth seek job cuts over the summer.
A spokesman for Bournemouth University said: “We are planning for reductions in government funding, however, we are confident cuts will be significantly lower than 20 per cent. “Whilst any reduction would be extremely unwelcome, we recognise public sector finances are not in good shape and universities will have to bear their share of wider government cuts.”
About 40 per cent of BU’s income comes from the government’s funding grant.
Jon Renyard, a director at the Arts University College Bournemouth, said: “We have no plans to close any ‘departments’ or courses and currently no plans to raise tuition fees. “The University College is aware, like all institutions, of the turbulent time which higher education is currently facing.”
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