Where is the excess fat?
The Minister for Higher Education and Science, Esben Lunde Larsen could hardly be accused of being reluctant to address the issues in his new political office – on the contrary, he has approached the education sector with both across-the-board cutbacks and a cost-cutting axe. But where exactly does the minister believe the excess fat is located when it comes to the universities?
"I’m very preoccupied with using the funding we invest in the sector for education and research, and not using them on inappropriate administration and bureaucracy, on too many middle management positions and a lack of procurement schemes and so on."
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The minister refers to a 2015 report from the Danish National Audit Office.
"It shows very large differences in the institutions' ability to ensure effective procurement. There is also a large difference in how much or how little administration there is at the various institutions. So there are some places where it is useful to review your systems."
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Esben Lunde Larsen will not say about trimming the alleged layer of fat. However, he acknowledges that the task facing the universities is not an easy one.
"But I’m completely convinced that the institutions can manage the task. Because if we look at the increase in volume that we’ve seen in the area – and we educate nearly fifty per cent more students today than we did just a few years ago – then this doesn’t mean that we have fifty per cent more employees or premises. It’s been possible to build up some capital."
The minister refers to the fact that an increased intake of students at the universities is followed by increased FTE (full time equivalent) revenues – that is, the amount that the universities receive each time a student passes an exam.
Larsen continues:
"When I ask the institutions for a two per cent increase in efficiency, which is something that’s been done for years in other areas of the State, this is an exercise that I believe is both healthy and beneficial, because it provides an awareness of how to run your institution. Does it affect anybody? Yes, it most likely does, but it’s the responsibility of the management at the institutions to administer the funding that we as a society choose to invest in education."
Translated by Peter Lambourne