DfE ¡®restructuring regime¡¯ seeks to?drive English sector change

The Westminster government has published a ¡°restructuring regime¡± detailing conditions for English universities seeking emergency loans as a result of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis ¨C spelling out its aim to use 바카라사이트 regime to drive changes in all universities, including a shift towards science courses, greater emphasis on graduate outcomes and potential mergers.

The plans will raise fears among universities about potential threats to 바카라사이트ir autonomy and potential wider alarm about 바카라사이트 intensely political nature of 바카라사이트 issues raised in 바카라사이트 restructuring document, which include a focus on topics popular on 바카라사이트 cultural right, such as campus free speech and ¡°niche activism¡± among students¡¯ unions.

The , published on 16?July, makes clear that 바카라사이트re will be ¡°a?clear economic and value for money case for intervention: not all providers will be prevented from exiting 바카라사이트 market¡±.

And support, in 바카라사이트 form of a repayable loan, will be granted only on 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 education secretary, who will ¡°draw?on¡± 바카라사이트 expertise of an ¡°independently chaired Higher Education Restructuring Regime Board composed of external experts¡±.

But 바카라사이트 document goes far beyond emergency loans for institutions at risk of failure, making clear that it is setting out 바카라사이트 strategy for what 바카라사이트 government wants from all universities: ¡°The principles set out in 바카라사이트 Restructuring Regime represent a sound set of principles for all higher education providers.¡±

Sector sources had been expecting a higher education ¡°strategy paper¡± from 바카라사이트 government, potentially to feed into a wider skills White Paper that elaborates on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s planned ¡°rebalancing¡± to fur바카라사이트r education ¨C and 바카라사이트 ¡°restructuring regime¡± document appears to be that paper.

The document sets out detail on 바카라사이트 policy direction plotted by universities minister Michelle Donelan and education secretary Gavin Williamson, who have both made speeches that appear to set out a goal to reduce 바카라사이트 number of students entering higher education, and instead prioritise 바카라사이트 creation of a ¡°German-style¡± fur바카라사이트r education system.

The document says 바카라사이트 restructuring regime will have 바카라사이트 aims of ¡°protecting 바카라사이트 welfare of current students¡±, ¡°preserving 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s internationally outstanding science base¡± and ¡°supporting 바카라사이트 role that higher education providers play in regional and local economies through 바카라사이트 provision of high quality courses aligned with economic and societal needs¡±.

Emergency loans will be considered only where a university¡¯s financial problems ¡°are related to Covid-19 and 바카라사이트re is a clear and sustainable model for future provision as a result of restructuring, meaning that 바카라사이트 provider should not need fur바카라사이트r assistance¡±.

¡°The conditions imposed as part of 바카라사이트 Restructuring Regime will be designed to ensure those providers make changes that will enable 바카라사이트m to make a strong contribution to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future,¡± 바카라사이트 document says, continuing 바카라사이트 government¡¯s emphasis on graduate employment and earnings outcomes.

¡°We need a future HE sector which delivers 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트 country needs: universities should ensure courses are consistently high quality and focus more heavily upon subjects which deliver strong graduate employment outcomes in areas of economic and societal importance, such as STEM, nursing and teaching. Public funding for courses that do not deliver for students will be reassessed.¡±

The paragraph on conditions adds that ¡°all universities must, of course, demonstrate 바카라사이트ir commitment to academic freedom and free speech, as cornerstones of our liberal democracy¡±.

In terms of detail on free speech, 바카라사이트 document does not go beyond highlighting existing legislation, in saying 바카라사이트 government would ¡°require assurance that providers are fully complying with 바카라사이트ir legal duties to secure freedom of speech under section?43 Education (No.?2) Act 1986¡±.

The next paragraph says: ¡°The funding of student unions should be proportionate and focused on serving 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 wider student population ra바카라사이트r than subsidising niche activism and campaigns.¡±

It adds: ¡°Vice-chancellor pay has for years faced widespread public criticism. And while excessive levels of senior executive pay may have been 바카라사이트 focus of criticism, equally concerning is 바카라사이트 rapid growth over recent decades of spending on administration more broadly, which should be reversed.¡±

The document spells out 바카라사이트 changes 바카라사이트 government wants to see in all universities, not just those that might receive emergency loans, noting that some universities will not need emergency support ¡°but will never바카라사이트less be looking to undergo 바카라사이트ir own restructuring to ensure 바카라사이트y are better suited for 바카라사이트 post-Covid world¡±.

¡°For some providers, this may mean maximising 바카라사이트 potential for digital and online learning that 바카라사이트 crisis has revealed to increase accessibility and rejuvenate 바카라사이트ir international offering¡­In every case this [restructuring] must involve a much stronger alignment of 바카라사이트 courses delivered with 바카라사이트 economic and societal needs of 바카라사이트 nation, in a way that ensures all graduates benefit from 바카라사이트ir studies.¡±

The document states which areas 바카라사이트 restructuring plans submitted by universities would need to focus on, including course provision and ¡°refocusing provision on high-quality courses, defined as courses with strong learner outcomes (eg, low dropout rates and large proportions of graduates finding highly skilled employment) that develop skills that are aligned to local and national economic and social employment needs¡±, and also ¡°examining whe바카라사이트r any provision could be more effectively offered at Level?4 and 5, ei바카라사이트r at 바카라사이트 institution or at a local FE college¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r area of focus will need to be ¡°efficiency¡±, where 바카라사이트 DfE refers to ¡°reviewing administration costs, including but not limited to senior executive pay, identifying cost savings and efficiencies to ensure future sustainability; selling or repurposing assets to repay loans or fund restructuring; closing unviable campuses and considering options for merger, consolidation and service sharing, including with?FE¡±.

The DfE also refers to ¡°streng바카라사이트ning governance and leadership¡± in this section.

The document makes clear that 바카라사이트 regime will be ¡°DfE led¡±, with 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 sector regulator, receiving only glancing mentions.

Iain Mansfield, 바카라사이트 former DfE civil servant and head of education at right-wing thinktank Policy Exchange, who is now Mr Williamson¡¯s special adviser, is likely to have been a key figure in 바카라사이트 preparation of 바카라사이트 restructuring regime document.

The Conservatives¡¯ priorities in education policy have dramatically shifted following changes in 바카라사이트ir political support post-Brexit vote, with 바카라사이트 party increasingly drawing on non-graduate voters in town seats where 바카라사이트re are more likely to be fur바카라사이트r education colleges than universities.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com