November 2006/48
Policy development
Consultation
Responses should be made online by Tuesday 20 February 2007
Higher education in further education colleges
Consultation on HEFCE policy
This consultation seeks views on the main elements of our policy for supporting higher education in further education colleges. It focuses on four main areas: our view of the role of HE in FECs, strategic development of provision, proposals for centres for higher education excellence in colleges, and funding and relationships.
| To: | Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions Heads of HEFCE-funded further education colleges Heads of indirectly funded FECs with HE provision Heads of universities in Northern Ireland |
| Of interest to those responsible for: | Management, Strategic planning, HE in FE colleges, Finance, Governance |
| Reference: | 2006/48 |
| Publication date: | November 2006 |
| Enquiries to: | Ruth Tucker tel 0117 931 7367 e-mail r.tucker@hefce.ac.uk Paul Hazell tel 0117 931 7452 e-mail p.hazell@hefce.ac.uk |
Contents and executive summary (read online)
Contents
- Executive summary
- Background
- The changing context for delivery
- HEFCE policy for higher education in FECs
- Strategic development of HE in FECs
- Centres for Higher Education Excellence in FECs
- Funding and relationships
- Quality assurance
- Responses to the consultation
- Annex A: Consultation questions
- Annex B: Review of higher education in FECs
- Annex C: The shape and size of HE provision delivered in FECs
- List of abbreviations
Executive summary
Purpose
1. This consultation seeks views on the main elements of our policy for supporting higher education (HE) in further education colleges (FECs).
Key points
2. We began a review of HE in FECs in November 2005, with the aim of developing a consistent and coherent HEFCE policy on the contribution of FECs to higher education provision. The review included consideration of the White Paper, 'Further education: raising skills, improving life chances', published in March 2006.
3. During 2006 we consulted informally with a number of stakeholders, and this informed the development of our policy.
4. This formal consultation focuses on four main areas:
- Our view of the role of HE in FECs. We have developed a statement of our view of the distinctive contribution that FECs can make to the overall provision of HE and we seek views on this.
- Strategic development. We seek a strategic commitment from FECs and propose that all colleges, whether directly or indirectly funded by HEFCE, should have a strategy for the development and delivery of their HE. We intend that this will be available to HEFCE and will support our future decisions on funding HE in FECs.
- Centres for Higher Education Excellence in FECs. We want to support Centres for HE Excellence, and expect to make available both capital and revenue funding, though our proposals depend upon the resources available following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. We want the centres to be developmental and we do not envisage one model. Centres might be formed by a single institution or by several. All FECs that have agreed a strategy with HEFCE will be able to bid for a centre; higher education institutions (HEIs) will also be eligible to bid, but only in partnership with one or more FECs.
- Funding and relationships. We propose that colleges with indirectly funded provision should have a minimum period (three years) of security for the funding and student numbers available to them, so that they have more opportunity for long-term strategic investment in HE. We also make proposals to promote clarity and transparency in funding partnerships between FECs and HEIs.
Action required
5. Responses to this consultation should be made by Tuesday 20 February 2007, using the online form.