The head of a Scottish university that helped chart a pre-G8 roadmap for investment in African universities has called for a fairer funding deal for all post-92 institutions in the UK, writes Olga Wojtas.

Bernard King, principal of Abertay Dundee University, demanded a reformed system that recognised the new universities' contribution.

Last week's "Abertay Conversation" among African higher education leaders led to a communiqué to the G8 calling for massive investment in African higher education, he said.

Abertay has also launched a unique research and knowledge transfer centre on the environment that Professor King said would help to develop environmental policy in the wake of G8.

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He claimed that the UK funding system did not reward universities for this sort of work or other contributions made to society and the economy.

He said: "The current system funds bits of university activity, such as teaching or research, buildings, or knowledge transfer, museums and so on.

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It is essential that we play new games with new rules, and in funding terms this means funding emergent excellence."