HEFCE News : 2003
More news and a round up of information issued by the HEFCE is published in Council Briefing and HEFCE Update.
23 December 2003
Decisions on the funding of teaching and research
At its meeting on 18 December the HEFCE Board considered responses to the consultations on the future funding of teaching, research, and postgraduate research programmes (HEFCE 2003/23, 2003/38 and 2003/42). In the light of those responses it made a number of decisions, which are given in this statement.
16 December 2003
Centres of Excellence in Teaching and Learning consultation responses
In July 2003 HEFCE published a consultation document (HEFCE 2003/36) on proposals for Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs). The consultation has revealed broad support for the CETL initiative.
16 December 2003
HEFCE launches new fund to develop leadership, governance and management in higher education
The Higher Education Funding Council for England has today published proposals to allocate £10 million over three years towards funding projects which will encourage and showcase good leadership, governance and management (LGM) practice in the higher education sector.
11 December 2003
Performance indicators show small reduction in drop-out rates
UK universities and colleges have seen a small reduction in non-completion rates for full-time students starting in 2000-01 compared to those starting in 1999-2000, according to the latest set of performance indicators published today by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
9 December 2003
Universities and colleges offered major funding package to boost links with business
A major boost to increasing links between higher education and business was made this week with the invitation to universities and colleges in England to bid for funding worth £187 million to improve collaborative activities.
4 December 2003
HEFCE welcomes the Lambert Review
The Higher Education Funding Council for England has welcomed proposals in the Lambert Review, which will open up new opportunities for higher education and business.
24 November 2003
Announcement on dual support for research and new Research Forum
[DfES press release]The Government has re-affirmed its commitment to the dual support system for research funding, and announced a new forum to strengthen dialogue between Ministers and the HE sector on research.
19 November 2003
HEFCE welcomes measures to reduce bureaucracy
HEFCE's response to the announcement made by Higher Education Minister, Alan Johnson following the publication of the Better Regulation Review Group (BRRG) interim report.
12 November 2003
HEFCE Annual Meeting 2003
The Annual Meeting will be held at BAFTA, Piccadilly, London on 21 November. A limited number of places are still available.
21 October 2003
Review of research assessment: statement by the UK HE funding bodies
Summary of the main points in an initial analysis of the responses to the consultation paper on the recommendations of a review of research assessment.
16 September 2003
Consortium appointed to help make space a top priority for universities and colleges
UK funding councils today announced an investment of £400,000 into a unique three-year research project which aims to work with higher education institutions (HEIs) to help them understand the business benefits of combining the effective management of space within their academic and financial strategies.
12 September 2003
Leadership Foundation begins search for Chair and Board members
(UUK media release)The process to appoint a Chair and Board members to the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education is underway. The new body is due to be operational from 1 January 2004. A nomination committee, chaired by Universities UK President Professor Ivor Crewe and including representatives of SCOP and CUC, will oversee the appointment process.
21 August 2003
Teaching funding method consultation
HEFCE is consulting on proposals to develop its funding methods for teaching, and widening access and improving retention.
13 August 2003
Review aims to sustain and develop world class research
Proposals to reward world-class research in higher education and encourage effective collaboration, whilst ensuring the financial sustainability of research activity in England, form the basis of a review into the funding of research published today.
24 July 2003
Higher Education Innovation Fund: round 2 funding proposals
Comments on proposals for a second round of funding under the Higher Education Innovation Fund are invited in the publication HEFCE 2003/34. The fund aims to help institutions increase their ability to respond to the needs of business and the wider community, where this leads to identifiable economic benefits.
23 July 2003
Schooling effects on higher education
This report describes research to determine whether the characteristics of an applicant's school or college can be used in an assessment of his or her potential in higher education.
15 July 2003
HEFCE responds to MORI survey results
The Council is addressing issues identified by universities and colleges involving its operations, communications and services as they were revealed in a survey conducted by MORI.
19 June 2003
Chief Executive sought for new Leadership Foundation (Universities UK press release)
The search is under way for a Chief Executive to head up a new body charged with developing and promoting leadership, management and governance within UK higher education. The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education is expected to be operational from 1 January 2004.
12 June 2003
Brazil-UK research networks bring mutual benefits
UK and Brazilian academics benefit from opportunities of working more closely through international networks project.
29 May 2003
Funding bodies consult on the future of research assessment
The four higher education funding bodies are beginning a consultation on the future assessment of research in universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. The consultation is based on a report by Sir Gareth Roberts, following a review of research assessment.
16 May 2003
Professor Wagner leads the development of new enhancement academy
Professor Leslie Wagner, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University, has been appointed to lead the development of the new Academy for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
15 May 2003
Review of higher education in Cumbria
The report is the outcome of a review, commissioned in November 2002, by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It follows initiatives in Cumbria and by HEFCE both to assess and to improve the opportunities for higher education in the county.
7 April 2003
Benefits of higher education reach far beyond the job market.
A study, commissioned by HEFCE, shows that the advantages graduates derive from higher education cover not only better jobs and higher pay, but also a wide range of other social and personal benefits.
18 March 2003
Conference promotes best practice in higher education management through benchmarking.
Benchmarking - defining a level of performance and then seeking out good practice to improve on that performance - is the subject of a conference run by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
14 March 2003
Step-change required in the way higher education is funded, managed and delivered.
HEFCE launches its draft Strategic Plan 2003-08 for consultation.
7 March 2003
Grants settlement supports student success and research excellence.
HEFCE announces that it is distributing £5,485 million in 2003-04 to 132 higher education institutions and 170 further education colleges teaching higher education courses. More funds to widen access, and to improve retention of students most at risk of dropping out, and more money for excellent research are the main features of the annual grants to universities and colleges announced in 'Recurrent grants for 2003-04' (HEFCE 2003/10).
7 March 2003
Growing evidence of effective interaction between higher education and business.
The second HE-business interaction survey, carried out by HEFCE and covering 98 per cent of all UK higher education institutions (HEIs), shows substantial development in their links and activity involving business and the community, comparing 2000-01 with 1999-2000.
12 February 2003
£1 billion funding injection for scientific excellence.
More than 150 universities and institutions will benefit from investment in the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF). An invitation to apply for funds in the second round of the SRIF is issued as HEFCE 2003/06.
27 January 2003
New body proposed to enhance learning and teaching in higher education.
A committee set up to review arrangements for improving the quality of learning and teaching in higher education in the United Kingdom has proposed the creation of a single central body. The new organisation is provisionally called the Academy for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. The recommendations are contained in the final report of the Teaching Quality Enhancement Committee, which was set up by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals.
22 January 2003
'The Future of Higher Education' and higher education funding for 2003-04 to 2005-06.
HEFCE welcomes the publication of the Government's White Paper on the future of higher education, and the grant letter for 2003-04 to 2005-06.