UNIVERSITY chiefs want to recruit 100 new top academics to Southampton in the next five years to lessen the impact of Government funding cuts.

The extra professors are part of ambitious expansion plans to push the University of Southampton into the premier league of higher education in Britain and the world in the next five years.

But other jobs – mainly in administration – could be at risk as bosses slash budgets to make the university more efficient.

Vice-chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam, who took over last September, wants to boost income by increasing the number of post-graduate research students by at least half, and push up the proportion of international students to 30 per cent.

Many degree courses will also be adapted to provide students with opportunities to get wider skills to help find a job after graduating, while even greater emphasis is placed on backing money-spinning ventures finding practical uses for the cutting-edge academic work.

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The draft strategy is being revealed to staff this week against the backdrop of Government announcements that central funding for higher education is to be slashed by five per cent this year, with more cuts likely to follow.

The university is already ranked 95th best in the world according to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 13th in Britain by the Complete University Guide.

Prof Nutbeam admits the university, which employs about 5,000 people, must become more efficient, but insists it is better placed than most to cope with cuts.

“We’re in robust financial shape but I would be irresponsible if I didn’t say it’s going to require us to make some changes,” he said.

“We’re not going to turn the university upside down or slash jobs but I want to ensure that for every pound we receive through public funding or other sources the highest percentage is devoted to education and research, and we’re not absorbing a lot of our resources in organising and administering ourselves.”

The vice-chancellor believes British higher education is facing a tough decade following years of growth, but wants Southampton to take advantage of the opportunities that presents.

“We’re trying to get ahead of the curve by observing the way society and the economy are evolving and how we can respond to that,” said Prof Nutbeam.

“We’re comfortably in the top 15 in the country and top 100 in the world for research, but we want to be in the top ten and top 50, and that’s going to require us to really raise our game.”