Universities Challenged: an overview of HE Professor Sir Robert Burgess Vice-Chancellor University of Leicester SROC Conference University of Leicester 13 April

The Politics of Higher Education Election Year –Political ‘football’ –Another budget? –Comprehensive Spending Review National Issues –Widening Participation (social mobility/social justice) –Elitism –Credit and Student Mobility –Role of Information Advice and Guidance

Key Contextual Issues Elite to Mass Higher Education Global Economic Indicators –Borrowing, Endowments, Utilities –HE and Economic Development Demography –Implications for Public Funding Policy Issues –External Drivers on Higher Education Institutions

Financial Issues Global Economic Context and Cuts Staffing –Pensions –Pay and NI Government Figures –Annual Government Investment£12.3b –HE Public Investment Growth since % –Research Funding Growth % –Total University Income £23b –Proposed Reduction over next 3 years £950m

Student Finance National Position of NUS Fees – the Cap Student Numbers, ASNs and Recording Systems Student Support Costs Demographic Downturn

Diversity Curriculum/Technological Developments International Students as a Solution, but … –… points based immigration and visas –… changing the shape of the institution and the curriculum –…potential for additional fees to be eradicated by the cuts –… development of international partnerships

Student Demand and Expectations Diversity and Widening Participation Class, Age, Gender and Ethnicity The Market Changing Relationships with Schools and Colleges Employer Engagement Consumer-like Behaviour –Education as a Commodity?

Development of Technology –Hardware to Wireless –E-learning –Social Networking Sites –Student Record Systems –Teaching Rooms –Libraries –Developing the Research Infrastructure Growing Requirements of Staff and Students

Quality and Standards Degree Classifications Plagiarism External Examiners Assessment and Feedback Contact Time vs Learning Hours Institutional Audit Public Information

Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Who Designs the Curriculum? Staff-Student Engagement Virtual Tutors Small Group Teaching E-learning, Blogs and Podcasts Challenge of the ‘Google Generation’

Issues in Assessment Patterns of Assessment and Types of Examination To Classify or Not to Classify? The Higher Education Achievement Report Diploma Supplement and Transcripts Unique Learner Numbers

The Honours Degree and the HEAR Honours Degree Classification System No Longer Fit for Purpose Proposals –Introduce Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) by 2010/11 –Develop Transcript and link it to the European Diploma Supplement –Institutional Verification of Non-Formal Learning – focus on achievement –Retain, but enhance, Summative Judgement

The HEAR - where are we now? Piloting, Trialling and Refining HEAR Structure within 18 institutions (plus 20 volunteers for a second phase) Working with Student and Employer Groups to Test Approaches Consideration of Electronic and Cost Issues and Implications

Working on Assessment Issues and Development of Recording of Non-Formal Learning Establishing a Programme of Awareness Raising Regional and National Events Production of a Simple Guide for Employers

What is a HEAR? An electronic document produced by a higher education institution which provides a record of student achievement during their time at university. It will adhere to a template and be verified by the Academic Registrar or equivalent officer. It can be accessed at any time during a student’s career with the institution. In its paper form it will be no longer than six pages and will be issued at the discretion of the institution.

Commitment to Widening Participation Student Employability Contribution to Economic Development Concentration of Research Shift from Disciplinary to Inter- Disciplinary Research Capacity and Commercialisation Higher Ambitions

Research Impact Develop Business Links with Universities High Quality Teaching The University and its Region