Invitation 02/21

Initial expressions of interest by Friday 24 May 2002
Detailed bids by Friday 30 August 2002

Improving provision for disabled students

HEFCE strategy and invitation to bid for funds for 2003-05

Executive summary (read on-line)

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Executive summary

Purpose

1. We wish to support all higher education institutions in meeting the needs of a diverse range of students, including students with disabilities. An important element in our strategic thinking is the mutual interdependence of activities and programmes focusing on widening participation and on learning and teaching.

2. This document sets out how we are including disability issues in other funding streams, particularly those for learning and teaching and widening participation. It invites bids for a three-year special funding programme to improve provision specifically for students with disabilities, from the calendar years 2003 to 2005.

Key points

3. The 2001 Special Educational Needs and Disability Act requires institutions to make reasonable adjustments to avoid discriminating against disabled students. New duties start to come into force from September 2002. This legislation requires a response by the whole institution, with a particular focus on learning and teaching.

4. We have already taken a number of steps to support institutions in providing for disabled students, through funding initiatives, advice and guidance.

5. We have set aside up to £5.4 million to support a further funding programme over three years (2003-05).The programme has two related strands:

• strand one - to improve provision in small and/or specialist institutions that currently have little provision for, or experience in supporting, students with disabilities. Annex A states which institutions are eligible to apply for strand one funding as principal applicants. We expect to fund all eligible institutions under this strand, so long as they meet specific criteria
• strand two - to develop and disseminate resources relating to the learning and teaching of disabled students, in particular priority areas. All HEIs are eligible to apply for strand two funding.

6. The programme will be supported by a national co-ordination team who will provide advice to projects, transfer expertise and good practice across the sector, and act as a first port of call for institutions seeking advice or support on meeting the needs of disabled students. We have set aside a further £1.2 million for these activities.

7. There is a two-stage application process for strand one:

• at stage one, eligible institutions are invited to submit brief expressions of interest
• at stage two, institutions will be asked to produce detailed bids, taking into account feedback on their expressions of interest. We expect to take all bids from eligible institutions through to stage two.

8. There is a two-stage application process for strand two projects for £50,000 or more.

• at stage one, institutions are invited to submit brief expressions of interest
• at stage two, selected institutions will be asked to produce detailed bids, taking into account feedback on their expressions of interest. We expect to take the majority of bids for stage one through to stage two.

9. Strand two bids for less than £50,000 are invited to proceed directly to stage two. They do not need to submit an expression of interest at stage one.

Action required

10. Brief expressions of interest, using the form at Annex C, should be sent to Catherine O'Loughlin at the HEFCE, by 24 May 2002.