View on the Ground

tomterm8

yes, I understand that Misskool. but I didn't think any of the cuts had hit education (in general) yet. Interesting to hear that isn't true.

lostinrates

misskool wrote: »

Academia is funded by the government. If the government has less cash to splash then academia has less money to research. Funding for universities (in the UK) through student fees are negligable.

I'm actually staggared by how people take for granted the non funded part of edcucation (from primary through to highest heights). Itsamazing vlue for monet for the consumer (despite my gripes over huge fees for university, I think some fee - even to encourage diligience and remind us SOMEONE is paying for the bulk is not a bad thing)

1echidna

Part of my life is with the sub culture of people living with severe mental illness. There is always anxiety over bus passes, day service provision and benefits. Sometimes there is little rhyme nor reason as to who gets it and who does not. For many anxiety is part of their problem and they avoid news programmes as it just worries them too much. It may be hard to believe that when bus pass renewal time comes around, many do literally become ill with worry. The line taken by care workers is that nothing is going to happen to affect them and as there is nothing they can do about it anyway, they continue with their task of living each day as it comes and enjoying what they can. Protected for the moment in my locality anyway and not interested in GDP.

thriftybabe

Generali wrote: »

As many of you will be aware, I no longer live in the UK having moved to Australia (mostly on the basis that if you have to be broke it may as well be in the sun)...........

Anyway, what does a 5% fall in GDP feel like to you? Loads of mates losing their jobs and overtime taking a dive or just a storm in a newspaper shaped tecup?

Know loads of people who have lost their job (in Construction)as we are the ones that have paid them off! They are still phoning us up looking to see if things have picked up and some were paid of in January. Out with that everyone else seems to be doing great. Our street is empty at the moment with all the families going abroad. Two neighbours are professionals and work for government so no change there. The other works in Telecoms and everything seems to be alright there as they are getting work done when they come back.

We now have nobody working for us at all. We have a smaller company that is ticking over but that is about that. Am already looking on internet for jobs!

fc123

I know top UK art college is cutting 10% of staff (voluntary at first I believe) plus donations are 30% down..and it is very high profile, never has problems with sponsorship.

Got an event at the weekend and will see friends in all sorts of industries.
One got laid of by Goldmans last year, went to Citi...wonder what he is doing now?
Another director of huge firm that makes 'widgets' in China and they are used in TV's and cars apparently....never really understtod what they actually make but he earns well. Late last year I saw them and sales had dived 30% almost overnight.

For us, I still believe that the boom caused us far more problems.
The recession is throwing up opportunities and challenges that we can max out as best we can for the time being. Best bit is as kids are big and I can concentrate better too. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

misskool

tomterm8 wrote: »

yes, I understand that Misskool. but I didn't think any of the cuts had hit education (in general) yet. Interesting to hear that isn't true.

funding is "technically" guaranteed for another year, the funding review lasts for 3 years and we are in the middle of the last cycle. However, many universities are expecting big cuts from the next round.

Almost all funding bodies and charities for research have retracted funding calls. The problem is/was the exponential increase in funding over the last 5 years (like house prices ) where universities expanded without thought that the money pot would run out.

bluey890

misskool wrote: »

funding is "technically" guaranteed for another year, the funding review lasts for 3 years and we are in the middle of the last cycle. However, many universities are expecting big cuts from the next round.

Almost all funding bodies and charities for research have retracted funding calls. The problem is/was the exponential increase in funding over the last 5 years (like house prices ) where universities expanded without thought that the money pot would run out.

Can't you attract more foreign students. Seeing as sterling is weak at the moment?

damanpunk

Construction in the offshore industry is good at the moment, the barrel is low enough for operators not to mind turning the taps off, yet high enough to keep us all in jobs! Contractors took a 10% drop across the board this year though and I do know a few people who've been put out of work. Strangely enough though I have never been as busy in my life before, working 15-40 hours o/t per week!

harryhound

Young hound graduated from the University of Nottingham some years ago.
So I thought I would try and identify the little Chinese man who handed out the degrees. The organisation is so opaque that I gave up. It is a bit like trying to understand the accounts of a holding company. You know it is all "Chinese money" (meaning we don't need to count it too carefully because most of it is transfer payments between subsidiaries of the same organisation)

However the lad must have been on this PC as it welcomed me like and old friend and instructed me to enter my id & password and to click the UK/Malasian/Chinese branch.

Did the rest of us hear the German government's money man interviewed on the radio a couple of days ago?
Not sure I can remember his exactly measured tones, but I got this message:
"Germany GDP is down 9% so I'm chucking a deficit of 6% at the problem.
The UK is down 5 % (so far) and you are chucking a massive 11% deficit at the problem - you must be bl00dy mad".

Sorry Ireland & Italy, this man is making your decisions for you. You will be in hock for a generation but Germany probably won't be.:rolleyes:

Jonbvn

amcluesent wrote: »

My estate is on the slide. Chavs, coloureds and EE renters moving in, crime/graffiti, fly-tipping, yoofs causing bother, local pub is boarded-up..

Blatant racism!:mad: