New chairman of AUDE Andrew Burgess says universities 鈥渉ave no choice鈥� but to fund developments to stay competitive
Competition to attract students is placing significant pressure on university estates, according to the newly appointed chair of the national university estates body.
Andrew Burgess, who today takes over as chairman of the Association of University Directors of Estates, said that competition between institutions to attract students was 鈥渙ne of the biggest pressures on university estates鈥�.
His comments come after recent research by AUDE showed that students value university facilities a close second behind courses in choosing where to study. Burgess added that university estates needed to 鈥減rovide a rounded experience for students鈥�, which enables informal learning 鈥渁ny time, any place, anywhere鈥�.
The UK university sector spent about 拢1.6bn on its estate last year, and Burgess said he anticipated this level remaining steady during 2014-15 despite cuts in government funding for capital projects in the sector, with universities having 鈥渘o choice but to fund developments in order to remain competitive鈥�.
However, he added that there was some concern within the sector over the impact an improving market for construction would have on tender prices.
He said: 鈥淯niversities have been a mainstay of work for the industry during recession, and some strong relationships have developed. The challenge will be maintaining those relationships in a more vibrant tendering market, but I hope that some of the partnerships from leaner times will flourish.鈥�
Burgess, who is the deputy chief operating officer at Loughborough University, takes over the AUDE chairmanship from Mark Swindlehurst, the director of facilities at Lancaster University.
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