Universities reinvesting estates savings in capital projects, says AUDE
Universities estates costs have remained stable over the past five years despite increasing pressures, the Association of University Directors of Estate’s (AUDE) annual report reveals.
Report reveals more efficient use of higher education estates
Universities are becoming more efficient at using their estates, having achieved a reduction in space and property costs, a report by AUDE on the sector's 26 million m2 property portfolio reveals. The report suggests a list of indicators to measure the performance of the entire HE estate.
RESULTS: territorial or communal – which tribe are you?
The Times Higher Education recently quoted a report by a Dutch University, which claimed that universities could reduce estate footprint by 25% if staff become less “territorial” and shared teaching and office space with colleagues in other departments.
Building maintenance identified as candidate for HEFCE funding
There is a clear role for HEFCE capital funding in supporting building maintenance, a report by the funding body for England suggests. The report reviewing HEFCE capital expenditure identifies maintenance as a suitable candidate for funding with history showing substantial expenditure being required to redress historic underinvestment in Higher Education maintenance in the early 2000s.
The UK Higher Education Learning Space Toolkit: a SCHOMS, AUDE and UCISA collaboration
This toolkit has been produced by three higher education organisations to help their members share best practice and work more effectively when creating learning spaces. It is intended to serve both as a practical guide and as a source of inspiration in the design of spaces that delight and motivate students, as well as meet their functional needs.
How one university is tackling under-utilised teaching spaces
Single discipline teaching labs can often be under used: typically for just 24 weeks per year. Ian Tidmarsh explains how new larger teaching labs at the University of Birmingham aim to provide more flexibility, higher utilisation and thus deliver better value for money.
How to build sustainability resilience into university business
A guide to building economic, social and environmental sustainability into all university operations has been launched by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges. The aim of the guide is to demonstrate the business benefits for universities in making sustainability resilience, innovation and opportunity a top table issue.
How collaboration between procurement and estates is delivering value for money
With universities spending billions on estates, the relationship between estates and procurement services is key. Three members of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium have described how their institutions are building closer relationships between these two departments, which are delivering savings and better value for money.
Less selfishness could mean more space efficiency, report argues
Universities could reduce estate footprint by 25% if staff become less “territorial” and share their teaching and office space with colleagues in other departments, says a report by a Dutch university quoted in the Times Higher.
Survey shows facilities a key factor in students’ choice of university
Research released by AUDE shows that facilities are key for two thirds of UK students when choosing university, with the library being cited as the most used university facility. Some 85% of the 2,000 surveyed say they are learning, socialising and living in clean and well maintained university buildings.
