Championing change in Sunderland’s new science complex
When the University of Sunderland refurbished its science complex, the ambitions for the project was to transform the faculty’s culture. The university’s head of estates, Iain Garfield, explains how engaging “change champions” was key to the project’s success.
Innovative spaces and pedagogies for enhanced teaching and learning
The rise in tuition fees over recent years has made delivering value to students increasingly important, placing renewed spotlight on the quality of teaching and learning spaces within higher education. A recent forum event, hosted by FaulknerBrowns Architects, explored how innovative teaching and learning spaces could support radical new pedagogies.
Balancing the heart and the head: maintaining UEA’s iconic buildings
The University of East Anglia is taking a low-cost approach to its efficiency and effectiveness programme, which is being delivered by a small team. Ian Powling meets four members of this team to discover their progress in realising the programme
Carbon reduction and energy efficiency in the HE estate
Growing awareness of the need for energy efficiency is prompting households to look for ways to reduce consumption and universities are no different. Sue Holmes describes what higher education institutions are doing to work towards carbon reduction and energy efficiency.
Demonstrating HE Efficiency and Effectiveness
This report focuses on how universities continue to deliver value for money in a climate where income is reducing in real terms and competition is increasing, while finding recurrent savings which will enable them to make necessary investments. It includes examples from universities across the UK where universities are saving money through efficient estate management.
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.
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.
A fresh approach to financing campus redevelopment
The University of Hertfordshire’s 2020 Estates Vision signals the university’s development objectives for the future, including enhancing the student experience. The university’s director of estates Andrew May explains the project and how it was financed through a combination of pioneering off balance sheet unwrapped bonds.
School’s in for summer: working university assets hard between semesters
As universities gear up for the summer, University Business's Tallulah Speed looks at how institutions are putting their assets to good use during the downtime by hosting conferences, gala dinners and even weddings.
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.
