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Short-term opportunities and medium-term challenges in higher education Alan Langlands 12 April 2013 HE reforms – the story so far • Students at the heart of the system • There should always be supply side stability • There are demand side uncertainties • There are short term opportunities and medium term challenges Students at the heart of the system Policy themes • A more diverse, dynamic and open system of undergraduate education • A continuing focus on fair access and widening participation • A shared commitment to invest in postgraduate education • Sustained funding for science and research (including charity and business support) and investment in the next generation of researchers • Universities and colleges as key contributors to achieving strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth • A willingness to review progress and deal with the unintended consequences of change Analytical Laboratory in 1840 New regulatory framework for HE Funding and regulation Student loans HE statistics Funding and legislation Universities, colleges & alternative providers Standards and quality Fair access Student complaints Student applications Regulatory building blocks Quality assurance Fair access and widening participation Dispute resolution Information for students and citizens Public expenditure controls and financial sustainability One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors.' Robert Lee Frost (1874 –1963) Supply side stability • Competitive provision • Financial resilience Income growth Good stewardship in the sector Protected priorities Capital opportunities • A pragmatic policy position A more flexible SNC Risk based QA A well constructed REF Targeted HEIF funding Financial health of the sector HEI sources of income (2008-09 to 2014-15) 140% 120% Cumulative changes in income (real-terms) 100% Funding council grants 80% Overseas income 60% 40% Tuition fees and education contracts (home and EU) 20% Research grants and contracts 0% 2008-09 -20% -40% -60% -80% 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Other operating income Demand side uncertainties • Pressure on student support budgets and the loan book • RAB charge assumptions • Student recruitment (undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time study) • ‘Shifting sands’ Immigration policy ‘Brexit’ Devolution in the UK Key findings • Demand for full-time UG applications returning to normal in 2013-14 – applications were up 13,000 in January • Early signals suggest disadvantaged students have not been adversely affected – at least in 2012-13 • Applicants to STEM and clinical subjects held up well • England continues to be a preferred destination of choice for international students But….. • Significant drop in part-time entrants (UG and PG) and a related decline in mature learners • Stark disparities in the recruitment and retention of students by social background and gender • Need to monitor longer-term trends – e.g. impact on PG study Short term opportunities • The quest for long term growth means investment in education and infrastructure • The high grades policy allows (some) selective institutions to increase student numbers • The focus on 3* and 4* research favours excellence and enables investment in PGR • UKRPIF and catalyst funding supports new initiatives • HEIF funding reflects delivery Medium term challenges • The importance of securing the ground for 2015-16 • Manifesto commitments - lack of clarity? • Impact of a general election and a post-election spending review? • Questions about whether or not the 2010 reforms provide long term financial sustainability. Tackling higher education reform Strong foundations • Higher education: £59 billion output contribution to the UK economy • 85% overall student satisfaction rate • UK accounts for 12% of the international student market and is the 7th biggest export industry • UK research base: second for research excellence; most efficient in the G8 • UK is 2nd in the world for University-industry collaboration Thank you for listening [email protected]