HEFCE News : 2005
More news and a round up of information issued by the HEFCE is published in Council Briefing and HEFCE Update.
19 December 2005
HEFCE welcomes report by QAA on foundation degrees
A report published today by the QAA says students studying for foundation degrees are benefiting from the success of the qualification.
7 December 2005
Winners announced at volunteering awards ceremony
Prizes have been awarded to 24 winners in the Higher Education Active Community Fund Student Volunteering Awards 2005.
30 November 2005
New formula for knowledge transfer funding
Funding for third round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund announced by HEFCE and DTI.
30 November 2005
HEFCE study recommends changes to reduce risk of racial bias in admissions
HEFCE has published a study into bias against university applicants from ethnic minorities.
23 November 2005
HEFCE continues to fund research in developing subjects
HEFCE will continue to provide funding for capability building in seven emerging research disciplines till 2008-09 at around £20 million per year.
23 November 2005
HEFCE welcomes report on student debt and term-time working
HEFCE has welcomed the publication of a report of research it commissioned jointly with Universities UK on students' attitude to debt and term-time working, and their impact on academic studies and attainment.
18 November 2005
HEFCE 2006-11 draft strategic plan: consultation
We are inviting responses to the formal consultation on our draft strategic plan for 2006-11, which sets out our broad vision and strategy for the development of higher education in England.
4 November 2005
Survey shows HEFCE is highly rated by stakeholders
An independent survey of HEFCE’s main stakeholders, other than higher education institutions and further education colleges, found that 82 per cent have a favourable overall view of the Council.
4 November 2005
£40 million boost for part-time students
HEFCE and the Department for Education and Skills have announced an additional £40 million for 2006-07 and 2007-08 to encourage participation and improve provision for part-time students from the most under-represented groups.
6 October 2005
HEFCE and Department of Health invest up to £100m in ‘new blood’ senior clinical lectureships
A new scheme will fund up to 200 new senior lectureships over the next ten years.
22 September 2005
Most students overwhelmingly satisfied with the quality of courses
More than 80 per cent of students are satisfied with the quality of their higher education courses, according to the first National Student Survey (NSS) covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
22 September 2005
UK Higher Education Performance Indicators
Published annually, the performance indicators (PIs) provide comparative data on the performance of higher education institutions in widening participation, student retention, learning and teaching output, research, and employment of graduates. They cover all publicly funded higher education institutions in the UK.
21 September 2005
Proposal for a new University of Cumbria welcomed by HEFCE
Proposals published today which could lead to the creation of a new University of Cumbria have been welcomed by HEFCE.
8 September 2005
Sir Howard Newby appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England
Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of HEFCE, will take up his new position at UWE having served the Council since 2001, and will succeed the current Vice-Chancellor, Alfred Morris CBE, following his retirement.
29 July 2005
Consultation on new round of funding to support universities’ collaborations
A joint consultation by HEFCE and the Office of Science and Technology is launched today for a new round of HEIF funding to support collaborations between higher education institutions and businesses and other organisations.
27 July 2005
Quality assurance in higher education found to be cost-effective
A report has found that institutional audit of English higher education institutions by the Quality Assurance Agency is fit for purpose and cost-effective.
20 July 2005
Research project produces model for successful space management (SMG web-site)
A major research project has found that UK higher education institutions (HEIs) that use either central timetabling or charge for the use of space manage their floor areas far more efficiently and therefore save money.
18 July 2005
Consultation opens on RAE 2008 draft criteria and working methods (RAE web-site)
Comments are invited on the draft criteria and working methods of the Research Assessment Exercise's 15 main panels and 67 sub-panels.
12 July 2005
HEFCE invites comments on outline strategic plan for 2006-11
HEFCE is in the process of developing its strategic plan for 2006-11, and is seeking views on an early outline of the plan.
30 June 2005
New appointments to the HEFCE Board (DfES web-site)
Three new HEFCE Board members have been announced by Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education.
28 June 2005
HEFCE takes forward programme of support for strategically important and vulnerable subjects
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is bringing together a series of activities to support certain subjects which are regarded as strategically important and vulnerable.
13 June 2005
Adrian Hill awarded OBE for contribution to industry/university collaboration
Adrian Hill, Head of the Business and Community team at HEFCE, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
26 May 2005
HEFCE initiative has positive impact on HE staff
HEFCE has published an independent evaluation on the Rewarding and Developing Staff initiative. The initiative aimed to help recruit, retain and develop staff, and to modernise management processes in the sector.
17 May 2005
Student survey on course quality achieves high response rate
Students considering entering higher education in 2006 will benefit from feedback provided by 170,000 final year undergraduates on the quality of courses run by universities and colleges.
9 May 2005
Over 900 academics selected to assess research in 2008
The four UK higher education funding bodies have appointed over 900 experts to the 67 sub-panels for the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
10 March 2005
£6 billion funding enhances the stability of HE in England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England announced the distribution of £6,332 million in recurrent funding for 2005-06 to universities and colleges in England.
8 March 2005
Using technology to transform higher education
A 10-year strategy to integrate e-learning into higher education aims to transform the learning experiences of students.
3 March 2005
Response to the House of Commons Education and Skills committee report on the UK e-University
HEFCE welcomes the report of the committee.
1 March 2005
HEFCE committed to part-time provision
Statement on funding for part-time students following HEFCE Board meeting on 24 February.
25 February 2005
HEFCE boosts higher education in Suffolk
At its meeting on Thursday 24 February, the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) endorsed plans for the expansion of higher education in Suffolk and agreed to provide a grant of up to £15 million to University Campus Suffolk (UCS).
8 February 2005
Universities and business united in success
Government investment in higher education institutions' knowledge transfer activities is helping boost the UK economy.
1 February 2005
HEFCE working with partners to create a University in Cumbria
HEFCE is taking forward plans which are intended to lead to the creation of a University of Cumbria. The aim is to improve access to higher education through a collaboration network of institutions centred in Carlisle, with hubs in other parts of the county such as West Cumbria.
31 January 2005
HEFCE announces £1,453 million capital funding for 2006-08
A total of £550 million will be allocated for capital developments to support learning and teaching in universities and colleges, and £903 million to support research.
27 January 2005
HEFCE announces £300 million programme of national Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
HEFCE has announced the creation of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) to promote excellence across all subjects and aspects of teaching and learning in higher education.
26 January 2005
Joining forces to cut more red tape
HEFCE welcomes the launch of the Higher Education Regulation Review Group.
19 January 2005
Inequality of access to higher education by young people is deep and persistent
A ground-breaking study has revealed the extent and scale of the inequality of access to higher education by young people from affluent and poorer areas throughout the country.
18 January 2005
Survey aims to improve information for students
Students are being offered the opportunity of helping future undergraduates make better choices by reporting on their own experiences at university.
12 January 2005
RAE 2008 sub-panel chairs announced
The four UK higher education funding bodies have announced the chairs of the 67 sub-panels for Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008. Guidance to panels and Equality briefing for panel chairs, members and secretaries has also been published.
12 January 2005
Detailed analysis of PhD completion rates available for the first time
The first comprehensive report on entry and completion rates of PhD students shows different completion rates for PhD students depending on whether they study part-time or full time, how they are funded, whether they are UK or overseas students, their age, and the subjects they are studying.
11 January 2005
HEFCE strategy supports central role for higher education in ensuring a sustainable future
A consultation document published on 10 January 2005 urges all higher education institutions to increase their contribution to the sustainable development of society. HEFCE is consulting the HE sector on a strategy and action plan to support institutions in their central role of promoting sustainability.