Million+ opens up the debate on future funding

The UK's less research-intensive universities must look beyond the government for research funding, according to Nora Ann Colton, academic deputy vice-chancellor of the University of East London.

In a opinion article on the future of higher education written for the Million+ group of post-1992 universities, Colton said that the UEL was “keenly aware” that the government’s approach to funding—that is, the concentration of funding among a small number of universities—puts the university in a vulnerable position. 

“In spite of our ambitious research agenda, we can no longer be complacent in believing that we will be proportionately rewarded for our research outputs and impact,” Colton said. As a consequence, the university must look to private funding sources, such as knowledge exchange, consultancy and licensing, she added.