HEFCE News : 2008
More news and a round up of information issued by the HEFCE is published in Council Briefing and HEFCE Update.
18 December 2008
2008 RAE confirms UK's dominant position in international research
The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise shows that just over half of UK research activity is either 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
17 December 2008
Birmingham to host national programme for STEM subjects
HEFCE has selected the University of Birmingham to host the national higher education programme for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
16 December 2008
Training will support voluntary-giving scheme
A £1.5 million grant from HEFCE will help provide training and support in fund-raising for institutions participating in the scheme for voluntary giving.
11 December 2008
Links with capital funding bolster carbon reduction plans
Plans for cutting the higher education sector's carbon emissions are set out in a recent HEFCE report to the Secretary of State.
3 December 2008
Universities and colleges to help stimulate economic activity
In a bid to boost economic activity universities and colleges have been asked to bring forward £250 million of capital expenditure from 2010-11 to 2009-10 and 2008-09.
27 November 2008
How universities can help in the current economic climate
A brochure on how higher education can support businesses during the economic downturn has been published by Universities UK and GuildHE.
21 November 2008
Clinical lectureship scheme increasing clinical academic staff
Around 95 per cent of the scheme’s award holders say they intend to stay in academic clinical research beyond the five-year award period.
20 November 2008
Next Chief Executive of HEFCE appointed
Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, has been appointed Chief Executive of HEFCE.
13 November 2008
HEFCE contributes to debate on the future of higher education
A HEFCE report on institutional performance has informed part of a government debate on the future development of higher education.
10 November 2008
Advice on student support and numbers
HEFCE issues advice to universities and colleges following the Secretary of State's parliamentary statement on student support.
3 November 2008
Round four of Clinical Senior Lectureship Awards
Nominations are invited for the fourth round of Clinical Senior Lectureship Awards.
30 October 2008
Building bridges between universities and employers
A report by HEFCE, Universities UK and the CBI confirms that employers benefit from collaboration with higher education.
29 October 2008
Statement on student support and numbers
The Secretary of State has written to HEFCE following his parliamentary statement on student support.
21 October 2008
Future brighter for science and other key vulnerable subjects
HEFCE's chief executive speaks about the future of science and other key vulnerable subjects.
Listen to David Eastwood interview on the Today Programme.
14 October 2008
Opening up resources for learning
An innovative project will significantly increase access to educational resources across the higher education sector.
2 October 2008
£400 million for universities to boost the economy and society
Round four of the Higher Education Innovation Fund endorses university strategies for engagement with the wider world.
11 September 2008
Best-ever response rate for student survey
More students than ever responded to the National Student Survey this year.
9 September 2008
Organisational changes at HEFCE
New team structures and roles within HEFCE have now taken effect.
5 September 2008
New appointments to strategic committees
HEFCE has appointed new members to its five strategic advisory committees.
28 August 2008
HE credit framework for England
A national higher education credit framework for England and associated guidance for its implementation has been published today.
28 August 2008
Proposed changes to funding for teaching
HEFCE consults on improving support for teaching and widening participation in higher education.
18 August 2008
Bids to Revolving Green Fund open
Applications are invited for a new fund to help higher education institutions reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
6 August 2008
Quality assurance is no obstacle for employer engagement
The higher education sector does not view quality assurance issues as a barrier to engaging with employers, according to a report published today by HEFCE.
4 August 2008
New Chair of JISC
Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, has been appointed as the new Chair of JISC.
1 August 2008
Head of Learning and Teaching appointed
HEFCE has appointed Heather Fry as its new Head of Learning and Teaching.
1 August 2008
Start of matched funding scheme for voluntary giving 2008-2011
A new £200 million scheme designed to increase voluntary donations to higher education providers begins today.
24 July 2008
Debate opens on new 'University Challenge'
A consultation published by HEFCE spearheads discussions about community bids for new higher education centres.
17 July 2008
Central reserve to store UK's research journals
HEFCE has awarded £9.84 million to safeguard UK's research journals and provide a central access point for the academic community.
14 July 2008
Concordat supports academic researchers
Employers and funders of researchers have signed an agreement to support their professional development.
10 July 2008
Universities' influence on economy grows
The seventh annual Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction survey is published today.
7 July 2008
HEFCE provides £11 million to support workforce development
Anglia Ruskin University and Harper Adams University College will receive funding to enable them to provide new services to businesses.
1 July 2008
Launch of National Aimhigher Awards Scheme 2008
Nominations open for the awards celebrating the work of Aimhigher learners and partnerships.
1 July 2008
Twenty-two institutions to pilot REF bibliometrics
HEFCE is trialling bibliometric indicators for the Research Excellence Framework.
25 June 2008
HEFCE welcomes NAO report on widening participation in higher education
A National Audit Office report on the progress and development of widening participation in higher education has been published today.
24 June 2008
Call to involve disabled people in policy making
HEFCE invites people with disabilities to become involved in HEFCE's policy making process over the next 12 months.
16 June 2008
David Eastwood to become Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
The HEFCE chief executive has been appointed head of the University of Birmingham.
11 June 2008
HEFCE achieves top rating for organisational excellence
The European Foundation for Quality Management has awarded HEFCE the top score of five stars in its 'Recognised for Excellence' award.
10 June 2008
Action plan sets out vision for a sustainable sector
HEFCE consults on how to drive sustainable development in the higher education sector.
5 June 2008
Widening participation indicators for higher education are improving
The tenth set of UK higher education performance indicators shows improvements in all three key indicators for widening participation.
4 June 2008
Director for Research, Innovation and Skills appointed
HEFCE is pleased to announce the appointment of David Sweeney as Director for Research, Innovation, and Skills.
29 May 2008
Research Excellence Framework moves to pilot phase
The bibliometric techniques that will underpin the new method for assessing research after 2008 are the subject of a pilot exercise.
23 May 2008
HEFCE improves engagement with institutions
HEFCE has appointed three associate directors to help manage relationships with universities and colleges more effectively.
15 May 2008
New Chair of JANET(UK) appointed
HEFCE announces the appointment of Roger McClure as Chair of JANET(UK).
6 May 2008
Government target for foundation degrees is on track
Growth in foundation degree student numbers is on course to meet the government target of 100,000 by 2010, according to a report published today by HEFCE.
24 April 2008
Research Excellence Framework moves ahead
The new arrangements for the assessment and funding of research are going ahead with two modifications.
11 April 2008
Vocational learners will benefit from Lifelong Learning Networks
Lifelong Learning Networks will improve opportunities for vocational learners, according to a report published by HEFCE today.
8 April 2008
Research shows university league tables could be improved
University league tables are in demand but seen as unsatisfactory according to research published by HEFCE.
7 April 2008
HEFCE secures physics collaboration in South East England
£12.5 million in HEFCE funds will be used to bring together, promote and sustain physics provision in South East England.
1 April 2008
£8.3 million to boost workforce development
Four institutions are using HEFCE funding to develop new relationships with employers.
13 March 2008
'Innovation Nation' White Paper highlights role of higher education
HEFCE welcomed today the Government's science and innovation White Paper 'Innovation Nation'.
11 March 2008
Timetable for consultation on new 'University Challenge'
HEFCE welcomes the request for a consultation on new university centres and sets out a timetable for publication.
6 March 2008
HEIF 4 funding allocations announced
HEFCE announces allocations for the fourth round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund.
6 March 2008
£7.5 billion in increased funding to support higher education
HEFCE will make available £7,476 million in funding for universities and colleges in England for 2008-09.
3 March 2008
New higher education centres to broaden provision
HEFCE welcomes the announcement of opportunities to bring the benefits of higher education to under-provided towns and cities.
28 February 2008
Rama Thirunamachandran appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Keele
HEFCE's Director of Research, Innovation and Skills, Rama Thirunamachandran, has been appointed the next Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Keele University.
28 February 2008
Favourability towards HEFCE continues to grow
An independent survey of universities and colleges shows an increasingly positive view of HEFCE.
26 February 2008
Widening participation and fair access research strategy
HEFCE has published a research strategy that will enhance understanding of factors affecting participation in higher education.
21 February 2008
£105 million to expand employer engagement courses
HEFCE will provide at least £105 million over the next three years to support the development of employer engagement courses.
20 February 2008
Report on student retention welcomed
HEFCE welcomes a report on student retention published today by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.
19 February 2008
Aimhigher funding secured for next three years
The national programme to widen participation in higher education will distribute £74.1 million per year to partnerships for a further three years.
7 February 2008
Widening participation in language study
Routes into Languages, a HEFCE-funded programme designed to increase and widen participation in language study, has been launched.
5 February 2008
HEFCE awards £9.6 million to support scientific research alliance
HEFCE has awarded £9.6 million to support the bringing together of two research intensive universities as part of the Birmingham Science City.
31 January 2008
HEFCE announces £2.4 billion in capital funding
HEFCE has announced the distribution of £2.4 billion in capital funding for learning and teaching, research and infrastructure over the next three years.
31 January 2008
Report calls for intensified sustainable development
A review of sustainable development in the higher education sector suggests that the momentum for change needs to continue and increase.
28 January 2008
HEFCE and Salix launch fund to reduce greenhouse gases
Higher education institutions in England will benefit from a new fund to encourage reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
24 January 2008
JANET wins e-Government Shared Services Award
The UK academic network, JANET has won in the shared services category of the e-Government National Awards 2007.
24 January 2008
HEFCE welcomes funding increase for access
HEFCE has welcomed a report by the Office for Fair Access which records that universities spent a quarter of their additional fee income on access measures in 2006-07.
21 January 2008
Grant announcement for higher education 2008-09
The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills has set out the funding for higher education in 2008-09 in the annual grant letter to HEFCE.