News - Success in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise
University College Falmouth press release
Following University College Falmouth's success in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), it has now secured a significant increase in its income from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for 2009/2010, outperforming all of its competitors in the creative arts sector.
Whilst figures are provisional at this stage, the overall projected increase in funding of 7.4% from HEFCE reflects allocations for additional student numbers and above inflation increases for widening participation, teaching enhancement and research.
Within this figure, the College's research income has been increased by 20% following UCF's recent RAE success in Art & Design at the College's Woodlane and Tremough Campuses, and Performance at its Dartington Campus. This demonstrates a sea change in the RAE which has, historically, rewarded an elite group of universities for traditional research activity, with RAE 2008 recognising pockets of excellence across the sector for the first time. HEFCE will allocate over £1.5 billion each year from 2009/2010 based on the results of RAE 2008.
The allocation of additional student numbers reflects the College's growth that has been stimulated by the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative and significant funding from the European Union Objective One programme, through new degree courses in Press & Editorial Photography, Marine & Natural History Photography, Fashion Design, Performance Sportswear Design, Public Relations and Digital Animation.
From September 2010, University College Falmouth will offer Performance courses in Cornwall for the first time - from Popular Music and Music Theatre to Dance Performance and Theatre Design & Production - following the relocation of staff and students from its Dartington Campus to a new, high-end Performance Centre that is currently under construction at Tremough.
"This is a positive outcome particularly in view of the current economic climate," said Deputy Rector, Professor Geoff Smith. "Whilst there is much work to be done, our projected research income has increased beyond expectations. This is testament to the quality of our researchers' output and reaffirms UCF's position at the centre of redefining the meaning of research in the creative arts as we progress towards Arts University Cornwall."
University College Falmouth is expecting to secure an additional £1.8 million of European Social Fund Convergence Funding to enhance its research capacity yet further over the next three years as part of a Combined Universities in Cornwall project.
University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall, a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education, funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.