The Science Minister, David Willetts MP, yesterday set out the Government’s plans to leverage funding from businesses and industry to support the establishment of new graduate university institutions in England. Mr Willetts, speaking at the think tank Policy Exchange, made it clear that there will be no funding from Government to support these bodies but that ‘private finance and perhaps sponsorship’ will be sought. The Minister invited applications for the opportunity to establish these institutions.
The Minister also outlined plans to increase the number of institutions in England appearing in the top 100 university rankings and plans to increase non-governmental funding to universities by 10%.