By Petrina Francis, Education ReporterIN AN attempt to bridge the $709 million gap created by the cut in the education budget, the University of the West Indies is exploring creative measures to earning revenue.
According to Deputy Principal, Joe Pereira, "The University identified a budget gap of $709 million between what the Government were funding for the Mona campus and what the campus determined was needed for maintaining the level and quality of service of our teaching and research programmes".
TASK FORCE
Mr. Pereira explained to The Gleaner that a Task Force which consisted of representatives of each Faculty, each trade union representing staff and the Guild of Students, was established to identify measures needed to meet the gap and to monitor their successful implementation over the coming academic year.
He said that the "Task Force met with every Budget section and discussed specific measures and targets with each, arriving at a total mix of cost containment and income generation that would meet the gap if adhered to".
One revenue generating measure, he said, includes offering an additional 50 spaces in Medicine to students who will be charged the full economic cost of the programme. Another is the enrolment of 200 nursing students at full-fee charges to cater to the international market for nurses, again in addition to the regular student intake at regular fees.
These measures, Mr. Pereira said, allow a subsidising of the campus' operating costs and thereby allow the University to maintain the level of intake for regular students. The UWI Medical Faculty in Trinidad has had to take in full-fee-paying students from its inception, and has been able to recruit from all over the world, he noted.
FUNDING GAP
He said that these measures are expected to allow the University to cope with the specific funding gap for the academic year 2004/2005 and maintain the level of student enrolment.
In addition, the University will seek funds from other activities. Mr. Pereira said that the aim is to raise 20 per cent of expenditure from other sources. "Undoubtedly, income generation will continue to be emphasised, and the UWI will continue to work on fund raising through its traditional avenues: donor and funding agencies who support research and special projects (e.g. AIDS/HIV research); our alumni, who increasingly support us; the Mona Century Club of donors who donate a minimum $1 million and the Development & Endowment Fund.
"We are optimistic that we can meet these challenges and continue to deliver quality teaching and research in our mission of unlocking the potential of our region," the deputy principal concluded.
