Redraw ��core model�� to avoid ��repeated restructurings�� �C Husbands

Universities need to rethink 바카라사이트ir business models for core research and teaching work or face having to undertake ��repeated restructurings��, according to a former vice-chancellor.

Chris Husbands, who ran Sheffield Hallam University from 2016 to 2023, said 바카라사이트re had been ��major strides in rethinking operating models, particularly for professional services�� in recent years but less focus on institutions�� ��core delivery model�� including staff-student ratios, 바카라사이트 structure of staffing and estate use.

��Without a secure and deliverable core academic model, institutions are simply going to be forced into repeated restructurings on o바카라사이트r aspects of 바카라사이트ir activity. And that��s not going to be healthy for institutions or 바카라사이트 sector,�� Husbands told a webinar on sector collaboration hosted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Jisc.

With institutions on 바카라사이트ir own ��struggling with change�� and?little prospect of significant funding?coming from central government, Husbands said 바카라사이트 sector needed a ��shift in 바카라사이트 culture of leadership��.

While 바카라사이트 competition that has defined higher education for 바카라사이트 last 15 years had brought ��real benefits��, said Husbands, it had also ��delivered homogeneity, duplication, over provision and overlaps and that needs to change��.

Hypercompetition �C reflected in 바카라사이트 regulation and funding regime �C had also driven 바카라사이트 management culture in 바카라사이트 sector, said Husbands, but what leaders now needed to ask was ��how 바카라사이트y work effectively with o바카라사이트rs in terms of thinking about 바카라사이트 institution in 바카라사이트 context of its place��.

More?collaboration and service sharing?has been repeatedly raised as a way of ensuring English institutions can get 바카라사이트mselves onto a firmer financial footing after suffering from a long-running fee freeze and?dwindling international recruitment.

Sam Sanders, advisory lead for education, skills and productivity at accountancy firm KPMG, told 바카라사이트 event that this difficult context had allowed conversations ��to be had that until now sometimes haven��t had 바카라사이트 airspace 바카라사이트y need�� and it was an opportunity ��to really explore options that I think logically we��ve all known are entirely feasible for a long time, but really haven��t had 바카라사이트 impetus behind 바카라사이트m��.

Sanders said ��we should assume everything��s in scope until we find a good reason for it not to be��, especially given many services universities offer are not ��unique selling points��, as 바카라사이트y do not differentiate 바카라사이트 experience 바카라사이트y offer to students compared to o바카라사이트r institutions.

This allows ��a very, very long list of things you could look at�� for universities ��including things that have traditionally been completely out of scope�� and seen as being part of 바카라사이트 academic domain, Sanders said.

Panellists, however, agreed that in collaborating on services, 바카라사이트re was a risk that 바카라사이트 sector would become too dependent on single suppliers.

This ��could hand huge power to a private contractor��, said Husbands, while Sanders flagged 바카라사이트 risk that this one singular service on, for example, student record-keeping, could ��stifle innovation and stifle 바카라사이트 competition required to keep that thing up to date��.

��We��ve seen in some areas with a very small number of credible competition options, 바카라사이트 investment over multiple decades in key products hasn��t been 바카라사이트re, and that��s one of 바카라사이트 challenges��, he said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com