Current Developments in Higher Education and at Birmingham City University Professor Fiona Church Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Learning Experience

Environmental context HEIs – £73bn of output; £10.7bn Export earnings; 757,269 FTE jobs (UUK, 2014; 11/12 data) No cap on student expansion – market variation Demand and supply issues –Competition –Demographics

Environmental context Shift from maintenance grants to loans – will affect market Research –Research Excellence Framework –Funding under pressure New emphasis on Teaching Excellence –November 2015 Green Paper- Fulfilling our potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice Regional role of universities – Catalyst; Supplier; Combined Authority

Some Demand Side Drivers Student expectations – value for money and return on investment Customer service – support, service Information: –metrics, performance data, reputation, league tables Consumer & Markets Authority – HE Consumer Protection –drive for better information, and consumer law requirements Employers & Professions - expectations

May 16 th 2016 – Success as a Knowledge Economy: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice – Government White Paper Teaching Excellence Framework Research Alternative Providers / Market Entry Social Mobility Improved level of information for students 2 new bodies – simplification of structures: –Office for Students –UK Research and Innovation

Government objectives –Increased competition across the sector –More flexibility in course delivery –Skills Plan – Sainsbury Review of Technical Education –Improved Student Information –Widening Participation BME Lower Socio-economic background More outreach work –Excellent Teaching – raising the status of teaching White Paper

What does this mean for applicants? More flexibility in course delivery – part-time, flexible, 2 year degrees, degree apprenticeships Easier Credit Transfer between institutions Variety of providers Student information –Price –Entry tariffs, actual entry grades –Quality –Metrics – NSS, Progression, Achievement, DLHE –Graduate Employment, Graduate Salaries

Office for Students Expert peer review of teaching Quality of Teaching assessed via –Metrics –Outcomes for disadvantaged groups –Institutional submission –Eventually – subject based? Rankings: –Meets Expectations –Excellent –Outstanding

Office for Students Statutory duty to assess quality and standards in HE Pro competition Pro student choice Responsible for access funding Regulates TEF Commissions Quality Assurance process

Expert peer review of teaching Quality of Teaching assessed via –Metrics –Outcomes for disadvantaged groups –Institutional submission –Eventually – subject based? Rankings: –Meets Expectations –Excellent –Outstanding Teaching Excellence

TEF – phased introduction 2016/17 – all institutions with satisfactory current QAA assessment will be rated as ‘meets expectations’ 2017/18 – pilot of 3 levels 2018/19 – full implementation Fee impact –2016/17 – fees rise with inflation (cap in place) –2017/18 – fees rise with inflation (cap in place) –2018/19 – differential inflationary rise (cap in place) –If a provider loses their ranking – fees may be lowered in course for students.

@ BCU – we are confident Student recruitment – buoyant Graduate employment & further study = 90+% –Graduate Plus International development Increased student engagement –OpportUNIty scheme –Student Academic Leaders

@ BCU Estate - £260M investment to date, plus… –Student accommodation (2016) –Curzon 2a (2017) –Conservatoire (2017) –City South (2017) Transforming our Curriculum –Portfolio –Pedagogy –Staff Recognition

Finally We are working within a dynamic environment The landscape of HE is shifting Partnership working is essential Students have more choice, more information and high expectations It is the responsibility of HEIs to understand that and support applicants to make the right choices