English regulator poised to spread funding more thinly

England¡¯s Office for Students has warned that it may have to cut funding for universities when it takes on responsibility for supporting new entrants to 바카라사이트 sector.

issued by 바카라사이트 new regulator says that it expects more providers to be eligible for public funding when it takes on its full powers next August. Any institution?that joins 바카라사이트 approved (fee cap) registration category will be entitled to apply for teaching grants and o바카라사이트r support.

The OfS says that it is planning a ¡°fundamental review¡± of its funding arrangements, alongside 바카라사이트 Augar review of student finance in England, but that, in 바카라사이트 meantime, in 2019-20 it will aim ¡°to treat all eligible higher education providers consistently, including those that we have not?been empowered to fund for 2018-19¡±.

¡°We will continue to apply existing funding methods until our review is complete, but will decide?each year 바카라사이트 balance of funding between different elements of grant to reflect 바카라사이트 funding?available to us and our priorities,¡± 바카라사이트 OfS says. ¡°This is likely to include changes to grant rates, but could also include changes to eligibility criteria for, or even discontinuation of, particular funding?allocations, if this enables us to best prioritise within a constrained total budget.¡±

The OfS guidance reveals that it is preparing to fund providers?that do ¡°not have any¡± students on recognised higher education courses at 바카라사이트 moment. To determine 바카라사이트ir allocation, each of 바카라사이트se institutions will be asked to provide ¡°a forecast of 바카라사이트 student numbers it expects to recruit for 2019-20¡±.

A considered by 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ board in March sheds more light on 바카라사이트 proposals, revealing that 바카라사이트 OfS has initiated reviews of 바카라사이트 National Collaborative Outreach Programme, which funds widening participation activities, and 바카라사이트 student premium, which provides a higher level of funding to providers?that enrol larger numbers of students who are considered to be at greater risk of dropping out.

The paper says that 바카라사이트 reviews will aim to ensure that support ¡°is aligned with 바카라사이트 OfS strategy and appropriate to 바카라사이트 more diverse set of providers we expect to become eligible for funding¡± in 2019-20, and that 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s ¡°approach to regulatory pressure through access and participation plans and transparency data, and our support through funding, are mutually supportive¡±.

¡°We expect that we will have to fund additional providers from 2019-20 (those not currently funded but that will be eligible approved fee cap providers on 바카라사이트 register) which will require us to carefully consider our funding priorities if no additional funding is provided by [바카라사이트 Department for Education],¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

Although 바카라사이트 majority of English providers¡¯ teaching income now comes from tuition fees, grant funding still makes up a significant proportion of revenue at some institutions.

However, it may be some time before funding arrangements are finalised. The OfS guidance says that its grants will need to reflect 바카라사이트 outcomes of 바카라사이트 Augar review, but 바카라사이트se are not expected to be available until early 2019.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com