AUDE Statement on Diamond Review Phase II

2nd March 2015

The Diamond Review Phase II: Efficiency and Effectiveness in Higher Education Report launched this week shows that over the last three years, universities in England have delivered estimated efficiencies totalling more than £1 billion. Since 2005, efficiency gains from better use of university space are estimated to total £886 million.

One of the key contributors to the success of efficiency initiatives relating to space and carbon has been the sector's voluntary contributions to the Estates Management Record which has for 30 years provided Directors of Estates with information to enable them to measure their performance. This coupled with AUDE's collaborative network for sharing best practice has enabled University estates to be at the forefront of driving efficiencies for the sector as a whole.

The report finds that trends in space use in Universities demonstrate significant efficiencies and that total income related to the estate size has increased substantially over the last decade. 80% of students say that the quality of the estate influenced their decision on where to study.

Members of the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) welcome this news and are delighted to be at the forefront of the efficiency and effectiveness agenda. Our sector is having to respond to many political and financial changes including higher tuition fees, reducing income and greater competition and it is great to see that the work that AUDE and its members does contributes towards these changes.

Sector-wide trends show a marked improvement in the quality of the estate in terms of improvements both in building condition and fitness for purpose. For example the percentage of space rated as Condition Codes A (as new) and B (sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration) has increased by over 19 per cent to 78 per cent.

Across the sector, HEIs have delivered increasing value for money from the estate over the past ten years.

• Total income per student and staff FTE increased by over 21 per cent over the period.
• Income per square metre increased by over 34 per cent over the same time.
• Thus the increase in the ratio of income per square metre exceeded the income generated per student and staff FTE, indicating more efficient and effective use of space over the period.

Data also indicates that there has been good progress in carbon reduction. This report highlights that significant investments in carbon and energy reduction have prevented an additional 1.2 billion kg of additional carbon dioxide equivalent emissions being released.

Read the Diamond Review Phase II: Efficiency and Effectiveness in Higher Education report here.