Calls for more investment in UK university estates

EC Harris calls for all UK institutions to wake up to the fact that effective estate management will prove vital in attracting students.

The higher education market is becoming increasingly competitive with UK institutions competing not only among themselves, but also against leading institutions worldwide.

Progressively students are being attracted to countries such as the United States, France and Ireland rather than the UK not only because of the prestige associated with studying abroad, but because of the often better learning environment.

EC Harris is calling for all UK institutions to embrace the new global competitive pressures and wake up to the fact that effective estate management will prove vital in attracting students.

This echoes new international research by the OECD1, which shows that the UK has fallen from second to ninth, and is now behind Denmark, Finland and New Zealand, in the proportion of young people who graduate from university.

In addition, a report2 published two months ago showed that the number of Scots entering higher education has dropped to the lowest in almost a decade.

John Plumridge, Director at Asset and Infrastructure Management Solutions and CABE enabler said: "The estate is second only to staff in the level of cost and importance to institutions in delivering their business".

"A huge proportion of the UK Higher Education estate was constructed in the post-war period and the rate of physical renewal has not kept pace with investment programmes in other countries".

"Maintaining and developing an efficient and appropriate estate is therefore more important than ever to UK higher education institutions." The increased investment however does not necessarily have to come from new sources of capital, but rather can be generated from more efficient capital management of existing estate infrastructure.

EC Harris has produced a report that demonstrates how strategic estate management cannot only reduce the cost burden represented by learning environments and support facilities but also go a step further - turning the estate into significant assets that release value, generate additional income, enhance the quality of teaching and research and provide a vital source of competitive advantage.

Paul Foster, Head of Education at EC Harris said: "Many institutions have buildings that are unsuited to their function, out of date, or simply in the wrong place and it is the quality of facilities and accommodation that are becoming a key selling factor in the battle to attract the best students and faculty".

"Effective asset management in any organisation is about making sure the estate supports the core activity".

"With a university that means the assets and the facilities strategy should be focused directly on delivering the environment needed to support education and research." For a copy of the report contact Sylvia Bradley on 020 7391 2674 or email her at Sylvia.Bradley@echarris.com.

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