08.04.08
Physics scheme for South East step in right direction - 1994 Group
A plan by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to safeguard physics research and teaching at six universities in the south east is a vital lifeline for the discipline, the 1994 Group of research intensive universities said today.
HEFCE announced this week it would provide £12.5 million to bring together, promote and sustain physics provision in six departments in South East England so that they can develop and support the regional and national economy. Total additional funding over the next seven years including resources provided by the universities and partner organisations will be £27.8 million.
The South East Physics Network (SEPNET) brings the University of Kent, Queen Mary University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, the University of Southampton, University of Surrey and University of Sussex together to promote physics in the region.
Four of the six universities are members of the 1994 Group and its chairman, Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: "This is an important and imaginative initiative by HEFCE. Without its intervention in this way the departments concerned would all have faced deficits.
"All are outstanding in terms of their research and teaching and we are delighted that they now have an opportunity together to contribute to the creation of knowledge and wealth in the region."
Editors’ Note:
The 1994 Group brings together 19 internationally renowned, research-intensive universities. The Group's members are small-to medium-sized institutions. Nationally, 10 of the 27 Physics Departments rated 5 and 5* in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise are in the 1994 Group.
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David Jobbins
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