Daily BUzz

Increase in demand for higher education by 2023

A new report by HEPI “Demand for Higher Education to 2030”, projects demand for higher education in England until 2030. The report reviews higher education in the context of the current policy environment, which has recently been overshadowed by Brexit, increased tuition fees and issues around student visas. Headline data predicts: 300,000 more higher education… Read more » about Increase in demand for higher education by 2023

Spring ‘budget’ statement confirmed

On Tuesday the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, delivered the Spring Statement and as predicted there was minimal reference to the higher education sector: £20 million has been ring fenced for universities and businesses to conduct research into “greener products and processes” and a small allocation of money will be provided to employers engaging in skills provisions:… Read more » about Spring ‘budget’ statement confirmed

Subject-level TEF

On Monday the Department for Education opened the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework: subject-level consultation (and parallel student survey) to obtain views from students, providers, employers and sector bodies on the proposed design of subject-level TEF. The current Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) assesses ‘provider-level’ undergraduate provision. However, subject-level TEF could start… Read more » about Subject-level TEF

Spring Statement due tomorrow

The government will publish its ‘Spring Statement’ on Tuesday March 13th 2018. Changes introduced by Chancellor Philip Hammond mean there is only one major fiscal event a year — the Budget in the autumn. Under this new fiscal calendar, the Spring Statement won’t be a mini-Budget and it won’t be used as a platform to… Read more » about Spring Statement due tomorrow

HESA releases finance data for UK higher education providers

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has published the first release of finance data for UK higher education providers. This volume is published in a number of releases produced over the year. Headline data reveals: The total income for the higher education sector was £37.5 billion in 2016-17. Income from tuition fees came to £17.7… Read more » about HESA releases finance data for UK higher education providers

Widening access in Scottish HE requires systemic change

On Tuesday a major speech on widening access to HE in response to a report from the Higher Education Commissioner was made by Scottish Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville. Somerville confirmed she supported the contextualised admissions and bridging programmes, and concluding that widening access would require “systemic change” rather than further funding within the current… Read more » about Widening access in Scottish HE requires systemic change

Students’ perception of value for money to be revealed

This week it is expected that The Office for Students will publish new research which reveals students’ perceptions of value for money. A glimpse of what the study found was previewed at the recent launch conference and the research shows: 38% of students think that their “tuition fee for their course” represents good value for… Read more » about Students’ perception of value for money to be revealed

QS subject rankings released

Yesterday the QS World University Rankings by Subject were released. UK universities were ranked top in 10 of the 48 subject tables. UK institutions are ranked in the top 3 of 32 of 48 subjects and are included in the top 3 positions in 50 of 146 subjects. British institutions are ranked highly in Arts & Humanities,… Read more » about QS subject rankings released

Higher education in parliament

Yesterday the House of Commons Education Committee was provided sector insight on value for money from Ian Marshall (Coventry University), Gavan Conlon (London Economics) and Claire Crawford (University of Warwick). Key points raised were: Gavan Conlon – the complexity of the student finance system and the language used is problematic. Ian Marshall – the term… Read more » about Higher education in parliament

Sutton Trust Mobility Report

Today the Sutton Trust published a study which focuses on student mobility, which is a significant factor of inequality within higher education. The report ‘Home and Away: Social, ethnic and spatial inequalities in student mobility’ concludes by recommending improved financial support for disadvantaged students to provide them with the opportunity to move away from home… Read more » about Sutton Trust Mobility Report