EUA releases new data on public funding for universities The findings of the 2017 Public Funding Observatory are now available on the EUA website. The study, fuelled by data from EUA members, is presented in a report and online tool. It captures the very latest funding trends in Europe and offers the most up-to-date information on 34 different higher education systems. The analysis reveals that since the 2008 financial crisis, the divide between higher education systems that increase public funding, and those that reduce investment, is getting wider. It also shows that while 2012 was the most difficult year in terms of cuts, any recovery that can now be detected is slow and fragile.  “Once university funding is cut, it takes a long time to catch up. Decreases may hit all activity areas, including teaching, research, infrastructure and staff,” explains Thomas Estermann, EUA’s Director of Governance, Funding and Public Policy Development. “If Europe sees more economic growth, we need to seize the opportunity to invest in higher education and set the stage for long-term sustainable funding trends.” Student numbers and dynamic economic contexts affect university funding. A handful of countries have increases that match student numbers and GDP growth, while others demonstrate the need to investment more in order to close the gap.
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