HEFCE News : 2006
More news and a round up of information issued by the HEFCE is published in Council Briefing and HEFCE Update.
20 December 2006
Science and Innovation Awards
The recipients of the third round of Science and Innovation Awards have been announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
18 December 2006
DfES is seeking to appoint a new chair for HEFCE (DfES announcement)
Applications for the role of HEFCE Chair of the Board are now being invited.
6 December 2006
Successor to RAE announced (DfES press notice)
The outcome of the consultation on research assessment has been announced.
6 December 2006
£60M a year will support research with industry
HEFCE will allocate £60 million a year in research grants to support HEIs in undertaking research with business and industry.
6 December 2006
HEFCE welcomes challenges of Leitch Review
The review of future skills needs in the UK, by Lord Leitch, has now been published.
5 December 2006
£8M for new initiative to boost public engagement
A new £8M initiative has been launched to promote excellence in public engagement in UK higher education institutions.
29 November 2006
Review published of widening participation activities (DfES press notice)
A report by HEFCE to Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell reviews institutions' activities to widen participation in HE.
16 November 2006
Analysis of 2005 National Student Survey published
HEFCE-commissioned research published today explores how student, course and institution characteristics influence the results of the National Student Survey.
15 November 2006
Strategy aims to engage employers with HE
As part of its strategy to support the HE sector in working more effectively with employers, HEFCE is investing £12 million in pathfinder projects.
13 November 2006
Clinical Senior Lectureship Awards
Nominations for the second round of Clinical Senior Lectureship Awards are now being invited.
8 November 2006
£75 million boost for high cost science subjects
HEFCE is to provide £75 million in additional funding to support very high cost science subjects, which are strategically important to the economy and society but vulnerable because of relatively low student demand.
2 November 2006
Improvements to quality information and the Teaching Quality Information web-site
HEFCE has published proposals to improve information on the quality of learning and teaching in higher education, and invites comments.
10 October 2006
HEFCE, Government and partners build demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), working in collaboration with the Government, a range of subject organisations and other partners, is aiming to build demand from students wishing to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in higher education.
26 September 2006
More young people to study languages
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has today announced a £4.5 million programme to encourage the take-up of language courses in England.
13 September 2006
Steve Egan appointed Deputy Chief Executive
Steve Egan has been named Deputy Chief Executive of HEFCE. He served as Acting Chief Executive from 1 February until 1 September 2006 when Professor David Eastwood became Chief Executive.
23 August 2006
Students continue to be very satisfied with teaching
The results of the second National Student Survey (NSS) show that around 80 per cent of students are satisfied with their higher education courses, similar to the results of the 2005 survey.
11 August 2006
HEFCE seeks views on its approach to equality
HEFCE has set out its approach to promoting equality in a new Single Equality Scheme, and is seeking comments from all those that might be directly affected.
26 July 2006
Universities enhance competitiveness and quality of life in the UK
Universities and colleges are doing even more to improve the competitiveness of the country's economy, and to contribute to society and quality of life, figures published today reveal.
20 July 2006
Eighth set of higher education performance indicators published
The four UK funding bodies publish annual performance indicators (PIs) to provide robust and useful management information for higher education institutions.
12 July 2006
Equality gap narrowing in higher education
A rising proportion of women are being employed in academic posts, reveals the first workforce framework for higher education in England, compiled by HEFCE.
4 July 2006
HEFCE and AHRC announce expert group on research metrics
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) today announced that they are jointly setting up an expert group to advise them on the potential for using 'metrics' - quantitative information about research activity and its outcomes - to inform both the assessment of research quality and the allocation of funding for research.
3 July 2006
Awards boost medical research
Fourteen universities have been awarded clinical senior lectureships in the first round of a scheme funded by HEFCE and local NHS trusts to increase the numbers of qualified clinicians undertaking clinical medical research.
20 June 2006
HEFCE statement on the reform of research assessment and funding
The HEFCE Board met on 15 June and considered the immediate implications of the Government’s consultation ‘Reform of Higher Education Research Assessment and Funding’.
13 June 2006
Reform of research assessment and funding
The government launched a consultation document today. HEFCE has published modelling to illustrate the impact of the approaches discussed.
2 June 2006
New funding targets greater understanding of China, Japan, Eastern Europe and Arabic-speaking world
Five new collaborative centres will be launched in a £25 million initiative.
25 May 2006
Access courses remain an important route to higher education
Access courses are an important route into higher education, particularly for mature students, according to a report published by HEFCE today.
18 May 2006
Final awards for HEIF 3 announced
HEFCE and the Department of Trade & Industry announced today the final awards under the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) round 3.
18 May 2006
Strategic Development Fund - updated guidance
HEFCE today published a new web section on its Strategic Development Fund, including updated guidance.
4 May 2006
HEFCE response to UCLAN announcement about Cumbria
University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) plans to transfer two campuses to the university for Cumbria project.
21 April 2006
HEFCE Annual Conference 2006: 'Investing in HE to meet the country's needs'
Information and presentations from the conference are available.
4 April 2006
HEFCE's new strategic plan published
HEFCE today published its strategic plan for 2006 to 2011. The plan has been through extensive consultation with higher education institutions and a wide range of stakeholders.
4 April 2006
Robin Jackson appointed Chief Executive of the British Academy
Robin Jackson, Acting Director of HEFCE's Corporate Services, has been appointed Chief Executive and Secretary of the British Academy.
28 March 2006
HEFCE welcomes further education White Paper
The Government?s White Paper published yesterday demonstrates its commitment to supporting higher education delivered in further education colleges.
23 March 2006
HEFCE funding award gives boost to physical sciences
HEFCE has announced more than £5m backing for two major initiatives by the learned societies responsible for promoting physics and chemistry.
22 March 2006
David Eastwood to co-chair national review of research assessment
HEFCE welcomes the Government?s continuing strong commitment to research and innovation.
22 March 2006
HEFCE review of teaching funding: the next stage
Responses to the consultation are now available.
2 March 2006
£6.7 billion provides solid platform for development of HE
HEFCE will distribute £6,706 million in recurrent funding for 2006-07 to English universities and colleges.
15 February 2006
Professor Eastwood appointed Chief Executive of HEFCE
Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, will become HEFCE Chief Executive from 1 September.
3 February 2006
Flexible learning is attractive but cost is main factor for learners
A study commissioned by HEFCE shows young people to have low awareness of flexible learning options in HE.
1 February 2006
Grant announcement for higher education 2006-07
The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has set out the funding for higher education in 2006-07 in the annual grant letter to HEFCE.
27 January 2006
HEFCE launches Clinical Senior Lectureship Awards
£100m committed for up to 200 posts through five annual rounds of awards.
26 January 2006
New dental school to be launched in the South West
A new dental school at Peninsula Medical School, and 100 new permanent places for dental students in England have been announced.
9 January 2006
Surpluses set to rise for higher education institutions
The surpluses of universities and higher education colleges are forecast to improve following the introduction of variable fees for students, according to the latest five-year financial forecasts.