Research will now be “curtailed”, as Professor Perry argued to the BBC, which could have a negative effect on Newcastle University at large. Newcastle is widely known for its STEM programmes and Scientific research- in fact, most universities were added to the prestigious Russell Group list through new scientific research. Not only will the lack of funding for research projects mean that professors will now be doing less research, but this also affects STEM students who are currently being taught; less research will directly affect their degree, and the lack thereof could taint the reputation of Newcastle University in the year to come.
This news comes directly after the University announced that they would be cutting staff wages to budget costs. £20 million will be cut from its salary bill, about the equivalent of 300 jobs. Staff are now planning a strike for fourteen days sometime in March. Meanwhile, Chris Day, our vice-chancellor, is currently at a salary of nearly £400,000.
So perhaps with the amount of job cuts, it seems pointless to have as much money in research as the university has previously amounted. But if Russell Groups are known for priding their “academic excellence” while spokespeople for the university are anticipating even more cuts, can we even continue to call ourselves a distinguished university?