Universities UK has published today [Tuesday] the recommendations
of its review looking at the higher education sector agencies.
A review group was
established by Universities UK in February 2016 to consider the
effectiveness and the responsibilities of the current sector
agencies that support higher education institutions.
The group – chaired by , Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Reading – has published a final report which sets
out the findings of the review and makes a number of
recommendations.
The review considered the following higher education agencies:
-
· Equality
Challenge Unit (ECU)
- · Higher
Education Academy (HEA)
- · Higher
Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU)
- · Higher
Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
- · Jisc
-
· Leadership
Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE)
- · Office
for the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE)
-
· Quality
Assurance Agency (QAA)
-
· Universities
and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
-
· Universities
and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA)
The report includes a number of recommendations including seeing
the number of core agencies taking subscriptions from
institutions (particularly in England) reduced from nine to six
over the next two years. Most significantly, a new body is
proposed that will bring together the functions of the Equality
Challenge Unit (ECU), the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the
Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE).
Recommendations from the review group report include:
- · The
core functions of the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), the Higher
Education Academy (HEA) and the Leadership Foundation for Higher
Education (LFHE) should be merged into a single body to create a
new, more responsive agency supporting institutions in relation
to equality and diversity, learning and teaching, and leadership
and governance
- · A
transition group should be established to help coordinate the
delivery of the proposed merged body
- · The
Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU), Higher Education
Statistics Agency (HESA), Jisc and UCAS should form a strategic
delivery partnership with a focus on improving the efficiency and
effectiveness of data-related functions and services
- · The
Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) – as a largely
commercial organisation already generating around 95% of its
income from commercial activity – should move towards a
subscription-free funding model over the next two years
- · A
forum should be established for chairs of sector agencies, with
senior representation from both Universities UK and GuildHE.
Commenting on the final report, , Chair of the review
group and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading,
said: “Sector agencies have been integral to the
success of UK higher education, helping institutions deliver
world-class teaching, learning and research.
“The sector has, however, undergone significant
policy reforms and funding changes in recent years.
Most of the sector agencies have been in place for many years, so
it was important to ensure that they have all adapted to this new
environment and that they are able to meet the needs of a dynamic
and increasingly diverse sector.
“The review identified a clear need for reform. Reducing
duplication and improving value for money and coordination
between agencies were some of the key concerns identified by
institutional leaders and other stakeholders.
“These recommendations, including the creation of a new, merged
body, should help ensure that the agencies continue to succeed
and support the sector well into the future. The review group is
grateful to all the agencies for their cooperation and thoughtful
engagement throughout the process. We look forward to working
with them to implement these recommendations.”
ENDS
Notes
- 1. Please find attached
the Report of the review group on UK higher education
sector agencies.
- 2. The review group
was established in
February 2016. Following concerns over proposed changes to
subscriptions to the HEA, the board of Universities UK called
for a comprehensive review of the sector agency landscape. The
10 organisations were chosen specifically as they represent
what are considered to be the core set of sector-owned agencies
that provide a combination of statutory, strategic and
developmental functions for higher education providers and
other related stakeholders. In addition, UUK and GuildHE are
sole or joint owners of each agency (with the exception of
UCAS; see pages 21–22).
- 3. Members of the review group
are: , Vice Chancellor,
University of Reading (Chair); Nigel Carrington, Vice
Chancellor, University of the Arts London; Sir David Eastwood,
Vice Chancellor, University of Birmingham; Sir Pete Downes,
Vice Chancellor, University of Dundee; Julie Lydon OBE,
Vice-Chancellor, University of South Wales; Quentin McKellar
CBE, Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire; David
Phoenix OBE, Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University.
- 4. Over the course of the
review, the group undertook an extensive programme of engagement
with stakeholders. The review group met five times between March
and November 2016, and the emerging findings were considered at
board level on a number of occasions by both UUK and GuildHE.
Opportunities were also provided for UUK members to discuss the
review at a number of Members’ Meetings over 2016. The work of
the review group was supported by the Universities UK policy
group. The Chief Executive of GuildHE, Gordon McKenzie, was an
observer on the group.
- 5. The report recommends that a
transition group should be established to help coordinate the
delivery of the proposed merged body set out in recommendation 1.
This group will agree on the key elements and programme for the
delivery of the proposed merged body, including liaison with the
relevant governance bodies to secure their support. The
transition group should consist of the chairs and additional
nominated board representatives of ECU, HEA and LFHE, plus
representation from UUK and GuildHE. A member of the present
review group will chair this group.
