Promoting workforce sustainability

The higher education (HE) sector is knowledge-based, and so the performance of the people who work in it is crucial. We aim to support higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop people and bring about organisational change, so that there continues to be a flexible and effective HE workforce.

Workforce framework

Our main contribution is made through our workforce framework, which is intended to inform HEIs’ strategic and human resources planning.

The framework looks at the key issues and challenges, and supports HEIs’ understanding of overall trends.

Our first HE workforce framework was published in 2006, and the most recent in 2010.

Good practice guidance

We have also funded good practice guidance.

Developing human resources

We have provided funding to assist HEIs in developing their human resources capacity. This funding includes:

Recruitment and retention schemes
In 2003 these ‘golden hellos’ schemes were developed around institutional priorities.

Rewarding and Developing Staff (R&DS) initiative
A programme of funding to recruit, retain and develop staff, and modernise management processes in the HE sector.