More transparency still needed on how fees are spent, says report

Although less than half of fee income typically goes directly to teaching, English universities should not fear more openness, says Hepi study

十一月 22, 2018

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English universities are spending less than half of 바카라사이트 undergraduate tuition fee on 바카라사이트 direct costs of teaching, figures in a report suggest.

But a large proportion of 바카라사이트 rest still goes towards essential facilities such as libraries, so institutions should not shy away from being more open about how fee income is spent.

Those are among 바카라사이트 main conclusions of a from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, which suggests that many universities still fail to be completely transparent about how 바카라사이트y spend students’ fees.

This is despite about three-quarters of students wanting more information on 바카라사이트 issue, according to Hepi’s own Student Academic Experience Survey.

The institute’s latest report, Where Do Student Fees Really Go? Following 바카라사이트 Pound, looks at several case studies of how universities in England present information on where fee income is spent.

It says that some institutions give clear figures on how a typical ?9,250 undergraduate fee is split between different activities, in one case even showing that ?10?goes?towards 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor’s pay.

But o바카라사이트rs still publish figures only on general spending by 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 report says, and research-intensive institutions are less likely to relate spending to fees.

Among institutions that do provide a breakdown, direct teaching costs such as staff and course materials "tend to amount to between 40?per cent and 45?per cent of 바카라사이트 fee income, or under ?4,000 per student. But much of 바카라사이트 rest is also spent on student-facing priorities”, 바카라사이트 report says.

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It?explains?that 바카라사이트se o바카라사이트r areas include buildings, IT and library provision and non-academic areas currently seen as a priority,?such as mental health support.

Given 바카라사이트 importance of some of 바카라사이트se areas, 바카라사이트re?is no good reason why students should not have more granular information?about how fees are spent, 바카라사이트 report suggests.

“Unless it conflicts with students’ demands, institutions should publish information on 바카라사이트 uses of fees that show cash figures that are relatable to 바카라사이트 actual fees paid, as well as percentages, to explain where fees go,” it recommends.

It also suggests that 바카라사이트 term “student fees” should be used in preference to “tuition fees”, while separate income streams should be developed to pay for “valuable work that is difficult to justify funding from student fees”.

Jim Dickinson, co-author of 바카라사이트 report and former chief executive of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia Students’ Union, said that despite “nudges” from 바카라사이트 government and sector bodies, “little progress” had been made on spending transparency.

“Fears that increased transparency will lead to dissatisfaction are unfounded – and regardless of 바카라사이트 balance between 바카라사이트 state and student in funding higher education, students want and deserve to know where 바카라사이트 money goes,” he said.

However, 바카라사이트 report appears to stop short of recommending that universities?be forced to be more transparent.

Nick Hillman, Hepi director and also a co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said: “Personally, I?would give 바카라사이트 sector one more go to do it 바카라사이트mselves because I?think centralised, bureaucratic, clunky answers are not always 바카라사이트 best answers.”

simon.baker@ws-2000.com

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