Comprehensive Spending Review

Dear colleagues,

For a number of months the University Executive Board has been carefully considering the potential direct and indirect consequences of reductions in funding resulting from the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). The headline CSR figures were announced today (see http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_sr2010_documents.htm and http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=416110&NewsAreaID=2), following on from Lord Browne's proposals on student funding.

We are relieved that the Business, Industry and Skills Science budget of £4.6 billion will be preserved in cash terms - a cut of 10% taking inflation into account, as opposed to the more draconian figures some were predicting. We also welcome support for low carbon industries, carbon capture and storage projects and wind technology, all of which are areas of strength in Sheffield. The Department of Health will also increase spending on health research in real terms, which could benefit our strong activity in translational medicine.

However, significant cuts over five years to the Business, Industry and Skills department are bound to have an impact on teaching budgets across the board. It will be some time before we receive the details of how exactly these cuts will impact on the University of Sheffield and specific subject areas, but I wanted to tell you how the executive board and I are anticipating and thinking about the issues we are likely to face.

First and foremost, we shall be acting in the best interests of our staff and students within the constraints we have been set. We will hold fast to our vision as a University, which is expressed in our Mission, vision and Identity. Without doubt, our commitment to these values will be tested in the coming months and years.

The steps we have already taken and the efforts of our staff mean that we go into difficult times in a strong position. However, I do understand that many of you feel real concern about the proposed changes in student and university funding which have been announced this month.

Our University has a crucial role to play in the lives of students and graduates and in research which can, and does, benefit the world. We should have confidence in our role and our abilities to play our part on the national and international stage. We will continue to excel in departments, faculties and in the overarching research themes. We will provide a world-class education. We will be a leading member of the international research community.

As further information on the details of our funding becomes clear, particularly in the run up to the Higher Education Bill planned for the end of this year, I will ensure everyone is kept informed and we will create opportunities for debate around the whole institution. There will be many challenges to our shared values in the new funding environment - and we need to talk about these openly.

Be assured that I intend that all of our staff will have an opportunity to contribute positively to this important chapter of our University's history. If you have immediate feedback or concerns in the meantime, please email me directly at vc@sheffield.ac.uk.

Thank you once more for your ongoing support.

Keith Burnett

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Professor Keith Burnett
Vice-Chancellor