| 28 July 2006 |  |
| To | Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions |
| Direct Line | 0117 931 7300 |
| Direct Fax | 0117 931 7203 |
Circular letter number 17/2006
For further information contact HEFCE Regional Consultants
Dear Vice-Chancellor or Principal
Strategically important and vulnerable subjects
1. This letter sets out our approach to communicating with and supporting institutions if they are considering closing departments that teach certain subjects.
2. We published a report in June 2005 from an advisory group, chaired by Sir Gareth Roberts, which considered the issue of subjects that are strategically important to the economy and society, but which may be vulnerable because of a mismatch between supply and demand (see Annex A). I understand that this report was sent to institutions by UUK/SCOP in September 2005 with a request that they advise HEFCE, on a voluntary basis, if they were planning to close a department in any areas deemed strategically important and vulnerable.
3. As part of their work, the advisory group considered a recommendation in the 10 Year Science and Innovation Framework. This proposed that we should consult the sector on making it a condition of grant that higher education institutions (HEIs) should give us 12 months' notice before closing a department in certain subject areas. The group's report proposed a move away from a formal notice period, but suggested that HEFCE does have a role 'as a broker to sustain or develop human and/or physical capacity within HE', and that 'this role should be further enhanced'. In the light of this we are keen to develop a constructive way forward.
4. In May of this year, the Science and Technology Select Committee revisited the issue of strategically important subjects in its report, 'Strategic science provision on English universities: a follow up' (available at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsctech.htm). The committee recommended that 'universities be required to alert HEFCE to proposed departmental changes in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics subjects not less than 18 months before changes in provision are due to come into effect'.
5. Against this background, I would like to share our recent thinking on the matter of departmental closures and, in particular, our response to this recommendation.
6. The HEFCE Board recently considered the Select Committee's report in the context of our strategy for strategically important and vulnerable subjects. It reaffirmed its support for the policy framework set out by the advisory group. However, the Board stressed that we need an early and effective dialogue with institutions, in the context of their own strategic planning, so that we are able to consider what support, if any, it would be appropriate for HEFCE to offer.
7. We would therefore expect that, as part of our normal dialogue with HEIs, they would contact us at an early stage if they are planning any restructuring in disciplines that are deemed strategically important and vulnerable. This would be in place of a formal notice period, which we do not think would be helpful. Any contact (in the first instance with the institution's HEFCE Regional Consultant) would be on a strictly confidential basis. An early and confidential conversation with us would allow us to offer advice based on our experience of dealing with similar issues in other HEIs, to provide support and, with the institution's agreement, to consider the possibility of transferring provision to other HEIs. We would also be able to consider and manage some of the issues of public presentation and reputational damage that might arise.
8. I would welcome thoughts on the approach I have outlined, and would encourage institutions to talk to their Regional Consultant as part of normal discussions about strategic issues. Further information about our programme of support for strategically important and vulnerable subjects is on the web at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/aboutus/sis.
Yours sincerely
Steve Egan
Acting Chief Executive
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Annex A
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