HEFCE Priorities John Rushforth Director

Overview Context Progression Retention Enhancement Funding

Key Challenges for the Sector Quality student learning experience for a student population with increasingly diverse needs. –Ensure access and progression. –Support for innovation and development of curriculum and pedagogy. –Enhance the standing of teaching and reward excellence.

Expansion of HE The economic case is strong Social benefits Increasing demand from potential students Participation in UK is relatively low

Participation Rate Is Relatively Low

Social Class Gap Is Wide and Persistent

Strategic Objective We want everyone to benefit from higher education who has the potential to do so

Target Groups Main (but not only) focus is 13-30; also: Young people aged 13 to 19 from groups under-represented in HE Under-represented groups in work, or work- based learning People not in training, education or employment

Student Progression Work place learning Flexible learning Vocational qualifications and higher education Life Long Learning Networks

Lifelong learning networks Regional or sub regional connections Seamless progression routes Guaranteed places Credit transfer Student support throughout career Individual Learning Plans

Retention Something we are good at Not just now but during time of change A key element of WP strategy – We want everyone to benefit from higher education who has the potential to do so –PSA target Perception of HE

Why do people drop out Academic Financial Personal Social

Who is involved –Schools –Academics –Institutional managers –Support workers –Students

Professional development The white paper calls for all new academic staff to have a teaching qualification(2006) and for external examiners to have induction and CPD for their role. The opportunity is for HE staff to define the nature of this professional development and to engage with it The challenge is to gain agreement from multiple groups with different agendas

National Teaching Fellowships From 20 to 50 per year Acknowledgement of different types of nominee Three institutional nominations Opportunity for NTFs to be a powerful advocates for Teaching Challenge to gain respect for the status of teaching as much as research

Centres of Teaching Excellence –70 Centres –200, ,000 per year for 5 years –Up to £2 million capital funding. Stage 1 –The case for excellence Stage 2 –The business case for investment value Announcement January 05 Opportunity of a reward for teaching Challenge to make this an investment effective

The Higher Education Academy Current status –Professor Paul Ramsden – CEO –LTSN, ILTHE and NCT incorporated –Board established –The Council to be developed –Launch October 2004 Opportunity for a real voice for academics in policy and for new funding for R&D Challenge – to create an effective new academy drawing together existing strands and increasing effectiveness of networks.

Higher Education Academy: an opportunity Ensuring continuity and development of –Professional accreditation –A voice for those developing teaching and learning –Informing leaders and managers about L&T issues –Strong subject networks –Dissemination, information, good practice, ideas and innovation –Coordination of enhancement projects/activities/agencies/networks Greater weight in the sector for teaching enhancement –Policy lobby –Focus for L&T activities –Conduit for dissemination of innovation and good practice –Support for scholarship of learning and teaching

Funding & Fees WP - £273 million to institutions in : –£49.2 million outreach –£10.3 million for disabled students –£213.1 million for retention Distributed on the basis of risk

% not continuing versus A level entry points

Funding & Fees WP - £273 million to institutions in : –£49.2 million outreach –£10.3 million for disabled students –£213.1 million for retention Distributed on the basis of risk HR strategies L&T strategies Additional funds for Professional standards

Funding Levels & Models Uplift for inflation Spending review The end of postcodes –Ward participation –Educational achievement New PIs ? T Funding Review

Fees as an opportunity Substantial step change Unencumbered Retention as an investment Virtuous spiral

Future Issues Impact uncertain of Variable Fees –Debt versus cash –Govt rather than student –Market Position Office for fair access Regional agenda –Shortage subjects

Conclusions Complex and evolving area Interconnections means partnership Long-term issue