Government department spending cuts announced in the Budget last month are set to hit the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) particularly hard, with annual savings of £400 million by 2011 being called for. Although DIUS will aim to make the savings through efficiency drives and “strategic reprioritisation”, there are concerns that widespread cuts could destabilise the higher education sector.

For further information, please see: Research Fortnight 323 6 May 2009 p.1, 6, 2, 16, 17.