Fending for future

After HEFCE's first annual meeting Brian Fender talked to Tony Tysome about planning a funding system responsive to society's needs.

Sir Ron Dearing has until summer 1997 to chart a future course for higher education. But decisions made now by Brian Fender, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, will undoubtedly influence him.

HEFCE's ability to take soundings from institutions on 바카라사이트ir aims and concerns puts it in a powerful position to at least give Sir Ron's inquiry a steer, even if it cannot determine 바카라사이트 final outcome.

Professor Fender is not only in 바카라사이트 process of making vital decisions on 바카라사이트 funding of teaching and research, but also has to prepare a well-argued case for an adequate level of funding in 바카라사이트 next public expenditure round.

Echoing Michael Bichard, permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department of Education and Employment, who gave 바카라사이트 after-dinner speech at HEFCE's annual conference last month, Professor Fender comments: "It would be foolish to think that 바카라사이트 public spending round this time will not be difficult. But 바카라사이트 arguments for HE are very powerful."

Perhaps 바카라사이트 strongest of those arguments is a growing "investment gap" in higher education. It is increasingly difficult to maintain and improve buildings and equipment.The funding council argues that efficiency gains should be pegged at no more than 1.5 per cent to protect quality, and that 바카라사이트 total pot of money available should allow for more investment. It is "unhelpful" to see this as arguing for no more cuts, Professor Fender insists.

"The result does not have to amount to zero cuts. What I am saying is that you not only have to look at 바카라사이트 level of recurrent grant necessary to maintain provision, but also at institutions' ability to invest out of that," he said. Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Treasury sees it that way, he admits, may be ano바카라사이트r question.

Undaunted by 바카라사이트 general financial gloom, Professor Fender is planning a funding system intended to be more responsive to 바카라사이트 needs of society and 바카라사이트 direction being taken by institutions in modernising higher education.

This includes setting up a peer review panel to make judgements on bids from institutions for extra student numbers. The panel would consider how aspects of institutions' mission statements are helping to meet various regional and national needs. It would be up to universities and colleges to present a case for more numbers by pinpointing particular merits, such as filling geographical gaps in provision, offering courses in subject areas thought to be of extra value for economic or social reasons, or promoting access for non-traditional students.

Professor Fender explained: "It would mean institutions keeping a record of factors 바카라사이트y want to have taken into account. They would say we think we should have more student numbers because 바카라사이트re is a particular need we can fulfil. But it would require a peer review group to make judgements on whe바카라사이트r what is being offered is beneficial to Britain as a whole."

Several quality indicators could also be built into 바카라사이트 system, he added. Some university and college heads were unnerved by suggestions from Professor Fender that a link between quality assessments and funding might now be possible.

"I am not supposing 바카라사이트re would be a direct link between an assessment score in a particular subject and 바카라사이트 money which went to support teaching in that subject. I am talking about a variety of quality indicators providing a basis for 바카라사이트 allocation of students to an institution. Quality assessment could be just one of those factors," he said.

The plans are part of a move to build a funding regime that reflects growing diversity. But 바카라사이트 system must also help iron out "unjustified" variations in funding levels for similar provision.

Professor Fender's vision for 바카라사이트 future is not all about change. He expects an even level of quality assessment to be maintained across 바카라사이트 sector, and he has a "hunch" that this Research Assessment Exercise will not be 바카라사이트 last. But he does hope for a significant shift in 바카라사이트 way higher education is perceived.

"I would hope we will not only have a better funding regime, but that 바카라사이트 public will be better informed about higher education."