An immediate and substantial investment in the generic teaching infrastructure of UK higher education institutions (HEIs) is vital if the sector is to avoid a severe deterioration in quality and standards, according to a new report published today.

The report, Investment in Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, puts a figure of £5.1 billion on the investment needed to repair, replace and modernise the buildings, services, IT networks and libraries of UK HEIs.

It also calls for significant recurrent investment so that institutions can manage their infrastructure on a sustainable basis.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "This is a highly significant report. The proposed £5 billion investment need outlined for the teaching infrastructure in UK universities indicates the true scale of capital required if the sector is to maintain quality and standards and meet the government's target for increased student numbers and social inclusiveness."

Roderick Floud, president of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "The generic teaching infrastructure underpins all university activity. It is crucial to the success of the sector as a whole, and without additional investment on the scale indicated the foundations for future expansion will not be in place.

"The importance of this investment extends beyond teaching. As the recent Roberts Review has highlighted, a well-resourced teaching environment will also help ensure the supply of top class researchers for the future."

Forum Response: Universities Council for the Education of Teachers

A spokeswoman for UCET told ePolitix.com: "The Universities Council for the Education of Teachers feels that the Universities UK report clearly sets out the consequences of many years of under-funding of HE and its effects on the infrastructure of HE institutions. The situation is increasingly serious and can only hamper the universities in their attempts to meet the government's policy of (a) increased access and (b) improving the quality of HE in this country.

"Particularly heavy demands are created by the need to develop and maintain high quality and up to date learning resources in ICT and library provision. No institution can afford to fall behind in these areas.

"In the case of teacher education, students on Initial Teacher Education and Training [ITET] are required to meet national standards in learning how 'to use ICT effectively, both to teach their subject and to support their wider professional role'. This cannot be achieved without proper infrastructural support.

"Students on teacher education courses and qualified teachers are also expected to be make use of, and increasingly, to undertake research. High quality library and learning resource provision in HEIs is essential for this purpose too.

"During ITET courses, HEIs attempt to 'model' for their students good learning and teaching practices. This is becoming increasingly unrealistic as many HEIs are falling behind the schools and colleges in terms of quality of learning environment. Unlike the school and college sector there is no grant or capital funding designated for this purpose.

"Those attending courses within HEIs and those working within HEIs have a right to expect decent conditions and the right tools to enable them to meet the every-growing demands of government."

Forum Response: Imperial College

Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College, told ePolitix.com: "The big issue in higher education is money, there's no question about it. Money drives everything from salaries for people to infrastructure.

"If I had an endowment that allowed me to offer scholarships to people who are bright but could not afford the fees and the accommodation, then I would have that right to help those people, I'd have the right to pay decent salaries and attract the best from anywhere in the world to come and work here, and I'd have the right to go and keep my estate in good shape."

"Every university in this country is under tremendous pressure because it is running at a loss. We lose money on teaching, we lose money on research.

"To have this artificial system where you say students pay £1,000 a year and the government gives you some additional money but that's not enough to cover the cost of teaching the students, is ludicrous."