Luxembourg increases higher education funding by 25 per cent

Luxembourg will invest €1.44 billion (£1.28 billion) in higher education and research over the next four years, a 25 per cent increase on its previous budget.  

Marc Hansen, minister for higher education and research, said that more than half of this funding (€766.8 million) will go to the country’s only university, the University of Luxembourg.

A further €383 million is earmarked for three public research centres: the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, the Luxembourg Institute of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, while €265.4 million will be attributed to the National Research Fund.

Legislation in Luxembourg requires the state to set out the funding it provides to higher education institutions for four years at a time. The new funding covers the years 2018-21.

In return for this, the institutions are required to meet a number of targets relating to teaching and learning; scientific excellence; the impact of their research through patents and spin-offs; and collaboration between institutions, as demonstrated by joint doctorates and publications.

matthew.reisz@timeshighereducation.com