University looking to cut some 'unfunded research'

A university has told its lecturers they will need to cut down on some "unfunded research" as part of budget cuts.

More than 1,000 staff at Newcastle University are currently being balloted over strike action amid attempts to plug a £35m shortfall.

University and College Union (UCU) representative and university academic Prof Matt Perry said reducing academic research time would be "reputationally damaging".

The university said its "top priorities" remained "protecting the student experience and maintaining academic excellence".

The institution emailed staff last week to tell them that planned savings would include reducing "research activity that is currently unfunded".

Prof Perry said this meant research at the university could be curtailed because it was not always funded from bodies such as the government and charities.

He added that some of the time a lecturer spent on their own research was classed as "unfunded" and was technically being paid for by student tuition fees.

However, he also said it was inaccurate to call this work "unfunded" as students expected to be taught by research experts.

A university spokesperson said it was "not immune" to the challenges facing UK higher education and like many institutions had implemented a "range of cost-saving measures".

"The measures we are taking will strengthen our position and enable us to continue delivering world-class education and research for the benefit of our region and beyond," the spokesperson added.

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