HEFCE offers cash to help costing

The Higher Education Funding Council for England will make grants of Pounds 15,000-Pounds 25,000 available to all higher education institutions in England over three years to improve costing strategies. Institutions will bid forthe cash, which is being top sliced from HEFCE funds. Ian Lewis, HEFCE's head of finance, said: "We hope for a significant return on this by people making better decisions on whether to accept research grants or start new courses." In Scotland, institutions will be awarded Pounds 20,000 on production of a suitable plan; in Wales, institutions will have to bid for between Pounds 15,000 and Pounds 25,000.