Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
colleges and centres is that of
maintaining a balance between
expenditure on educational activity
and tutorial staff on the one hand,
and on bursarial functions (such
as administrative staff, domestic
activities, and premises) on the
other. The proportion of expenditure
which many of our institutions have
been able to dedicate to educational
activity and tutorial staff has been
higher than that achieved in the
secular sector, which has brought
significant benefits. However, it has
also meant, within a wider context
of tight budgets, that expenditure on
premises in particular may not have
been as high as it ought to have
been to maintain buildings, teaching
spaces and student accommodation
to a good standard. Added to these is
the need to be proactive in meeting
new requirements and expectations
(eg the 2010 Equality Act enabling
disabled students to take part in the
full range of activities of student life
at learning institutions). Moreover it
has rarely been possible to identify or
to set aside funds for even moderate
capital expenditure projects. Five
institutions directly or indirectly
governed by the Conference and
the Methodist Council currently face
the need to embark on projects to
maintain, refurbish and improve their
premises which involve expenditure
of approximately £12.3 million. The
free reserves available within the five
institutions to support this work stand
at approximately £4.5 million. Other
institutions are unable to embark on
expansionary projects which require
moderate levels of capital expenditure
as funds to support these activities
are not available.
91 This scale of the potential investment
opportunities across the Connexion
challenges the Conference to respond
in a coherent and holistic way to a
number of significant decisions within
different institutions. The challenge is
a bold one – to make sure that we are
making the best use of the premises
which the Conference dedicates to
learning activities.
Changes in the Higher Education sector
92 A further set of challenges emerges
from the changes taking place
within the Higher Education (HE)
sector. Government changes to HE
funding mean that a form of hidden
subsidy which has supported the
Church’s theological education
activities has now been removed.
In narrow terms, this means that
it is extremely likely that the costs
for the Church of engaging with
theology departments in the HE
sector will increase. It is also very
likely that serious questions will be
raised about the future of theology
departments within many universities.
The long-term consequences of the
HE sector changes currently being
implemented are likely to be more
far-reaching still. A more competitive
and diverse sector is envisaged by
the government’s reforms. Therefore,
as well as navigating a reactive
path through present insecurities
as universities absorb the effects of
674 Conference Agenda 2012