Friday 14 March 2003
Press release
Step-change required in the way higher education is funded, managed and delivered
Universities and colleges need to gauge their contribution to meeting regional and national needs in relation to the whole higher education sector, Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said today (Friday 14 March).
Launching the Council's draft Strategic Plan 2003-08 for consultation, Sir Howard said the central message of the plan was that individual universities and colleges have to recognise that they cannot all meet the full range of customer and stakeholder needs to the necessary standards of excellence.
'They must build upon their own chosen areas of strength, and work in collaboration with other providers, so that the sector as a whole continues to deliver all that is required of it in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.'
The plan has been developed within the broad policy framework of the Government's White Paper 'The future of higher education'. International competition and the increasingly diverse requirements of students, employers, government and other stakeholders will require a step-change in the way higher education is funded, managed and delivered. The plan envisages higher education in the future being significantly different in its structure, organisation and delivery.
The plan foresees a higher education system in which institutions are both more diverse and increasingly interconnected. Universities and colleges should play to their strengths. They should also recognise that there are some things that other institutions can do better. Increasingly the sector will face challenges which are most effectively met by collaboration between institutions with complementary strengths. Limited resources should be directed to where they can be used to the best advantage.
'This approach can both improve quality and enhance British higher education's reputation for excellence on a world stage,' said Sir Howard. 'Our intention is to foster and reward world-class provision across the full range of activities in higher education.'
One of the greatest changes identified in the plan is to the traditional concept of higher education. Lifelong learning - the continued acquisition of knowledge and skills from cradle to grave - is turning education from a single life episode to a long running series. This will require new types of courses and methods of delivery in order to provide education and top-up skills and knowledge where and when they are needed.
The plan is intended to provide universities and colleges with a secure and practical framework throughout and beyond the planning period. Moving towards a more selective mission in collaboration with others will require strong and effective leadership, management and governance in every institution.
Strategic aims
The plan is based on four strategic aims:
- Widening participation and fair access
- Enhancing excellence in learning and teaching
- Enhancing excellence in research
- Enhancing the contribution of higher education to the economy and society.
These core aims will be underpinned with three supporting aims:
- Building on institutions' strengths
- Developing leadership, governance and management
- Excellence in delivery: organisational development within HEFCE.
For each of the core aims, HEFCE has set out its vision and proposed objectives.
Widening participation
The country cannot afford to waste talent simply because of a reluctance to foster it. That means reaching out to those for whom higher education seems beyond reach, not for any lack of ability, but often simply for reasons of family or community tradition. All institutions will be expected to contribute to achieving national objectives in this area. Institutions with a distinctive mission and a concentration of students from non-traditional backgrounds will be awarded extra funding to meet the additional costs of supporting these students.
Learning and teaching
All institutions will be expected to sustain high-quality learning and teaching and to undertake scholarship to support this. Particular excellence in learning and teaching will be rewarded by setting up Centres of Excellence in teaching (proposed in the White Paper). Excellent teachers will be rewarded through higher pay, as reflected in their institution's human resources strategy. New and innovative approaches to learning and teaching will be encouraged, to enable students to continue developing their knowledge, skills and horizons throughout their lives.
Research
A dynamic, world-class research sector is vital to the health of universities and crucial to economic growth and social cohesion. HEFCE will allocate funding to develop and sustain excellent research across all subject areas. This funding will continue to be highly selective. All higher education institutions will be able to undertake research, selectively and funded from a variety of sources. The Council will work closely with other funders to develop the research base, and will encourage much greater collaboration between institutions.
Contributing to the economy and society
All universities and colleges will engage with their region and local communities, contributing to social and economic development through a broad range of activities reflecting their own mission and stakeholders' needs. Additional funds will enable some institutions to develop a particular role as partners in Knowledge Exchanges (proposed in the White Paper), becoming the regional or sub-regional focus for intensive engagement with business and the community.
Under the supporting aims, the plan proposes action to help institutions in developing their leadership and management, and reshaping their missions, to turn the vision into reality. This will include a new strategic development fund to support structural change and increased collaboration, and help for the sector's own initiative to develop a Leadership Foundation.
Ends
Notes
The HEFCE Draft Strategic Plan for 2003-08 (HEFCE 2003/12) is available on the HEFCE web-site.
1. Comments on the draft Strategic Plan should be made by post, e-mail or on the web by 27 May 2003.
2. The Draft Strategic Plan is the outcome of 12 months' discussion within the Council, by the HEFCE Board, with universities and colleges, government and other stakeholders.