Strategic Development Fund (SDF)
In January 2003, the Government's White Paper 'The future of higher education (Adobe PDF 611K)' announced the creation of the Strategic Development Fund (SDF), to support change and innovation in the sector. The SDF built on our experience of funding large-scale structural change in the higher education sector through our previous Restructuring and Collaboration Fund (R&CF).
The SDF plays an important role in supporting the delivery of priorities from our strategic plan and from Government.
SDF projects funded up to 31 July 2008
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There is no deadline for submitting proposals to the SDF. We consider proposals at any time, and have an ongoing approval process. All HEIs are eligible to apply. The fund supports projects on the basis of sharing risk and investment between us, HEIs and other funders according to the priorities of the partners. We typically provide our support through a mix of repayable loan and grant
Our guidance on the fund: HEFCE 2007/22 provides background to the fund and information for HEIs wishing to submit proposals. We can assess proposals at frequent intervals (with smaller-scale and lower-risk projects assessed roughly monthly, and larger-scale and higher-risk projects assessed roughly quarterly). Our processes are designed to be flexible and responsive and ensure the long-term impact of the fund.
We also allocate Additional Student Numbers (ASNs) through SDF processes when numbers are made available to us by the Government, either in conjunction with SDF projects or standalone. ASNs are described further in 'Funding higher education in England: how HEFCE allocates its funds' (HEFCE 2008/33).
Most recent allocations of ASNs available for 2010-11
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We keep the processes of the SDF under review to ensure that these are effective and in particular that burden is at the minimum, proportionate to risk. Some changes were made to the fund in September 2007 following a review by consultants SQW. We also evaluate outcomes of the fund periodically.
Contacts
Those interested in putting proposals to the SDF should contact their HEFCE institutional team in the first instance.
Last updated 27 January 2009