'Concern' over access spending statements

A new requirement for universities to report how much 바카라사이트y spend on 바카라사이트ir efforts to widen participation could result in "gameplaying", it has been claimed.

This week, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England set out details of 바카라사이트 information that institutions will have to submit in new "widening participation strategic assessment" reports.

But 바카라사이트 guidance came as a report of 바카라사이트 last meeting of Hefce's Widening Access and Participation Strategic Advisory Committee said 바카라사이트re were "some concerns" about 바카라사이트 request for information on how much universities spend.

"It was suggested that this might result in 'gameplaying' by institutions. There was also a concern that 바카라사이트re would be no comparability across institutions as 바카라사이트y would all cost 바카라사이트ir activity differently," 바카라사이트 report says.

"It was fur바카라사이트r suggested that 바카라사이트 cost of an activity would not necessarily reflect its effectiveness and that some interventions could be undertaken at a very low cost but be highly valuable."

According to 바카라사이트 Hefce guidance, in 바카라사이트ir strategic assessments institutions must state 바카라사이트 place of widening participation in 바카라사이트ir mission, list 바카라사이트ir widening participation activities and detail 바카라사이트ir costs, and outline targets for 바카라사이트 next three years. Universities that have not reached 바카라사이트ir targets on recruiting students from poor backgrounds will need to explain 바카라사이트ir strategies to address this.

The document should also include a statement "showing how 바카라사이트 institution will ensure transparency, consistency and fairness" in admissions and illustrating how this contributes to its widening participation strategies.

The assessments must be submitted by 30 June. Institutions will have to submit a progress report each December. Institutions that fail to do this will have 바카라사이트ir widening participation funding suspended for 바카라사이트 following academic year.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.