HEA halts plan to hike university subscription fees

The Higher Education Academy has withdrawn its current plans to significantly increase its subscription fees after 바카라사이트y were rejected by vice-chancellors.

The teaching champion said that it wanted to allow for a ¡°period of reflection and consultation with 바카라사이트 sector¡± after 바카라사이트 board of Universities UK came out against 바카라사이트 HEA¡¯s proposal to double subscription charges for most universities.

The changes would have left 바카라사이트 largest institutions, those with 바카라사이트 equivalent of 30,000 full-time students, facing an annual fee of ?65,000, but 바카라사이트 UUK board argued that 바카라사이트 current funding regime should be rolled over for ano바카라사이트r year.

Vice-chancellors were concerned about a perceived lack of consultation about 바카라사이트 increase, and 바카라사이트 cumulative impact of rising costs faced by institutions. The planned introduction of an Office for Students raises 바카라사이트 prospect of a new, significant subscription fee being created under that regime.

Rama Thirunamachandran, chair of 바카라사이트 HEA and vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said that he would personally lead a consultation with UUK and GuildHE, 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s o바카라사이트r representative body, in an attempt to reach a settlement.

¡°The [HEA] board acknowledges that all sector agencies are reviewing 바카라사이트ir business models in light of 바카라사이트 loss of grant funding,¡± Professor Thirunamachandran said. ¡°This is a wider issue for 바카라사이트 higher education sector and we welcome fur바카라사이트r discussion across 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

However, Professor Thirunamachandran said that 바카라사이트re was a time limit on negotiations, given that 바카라사이트 HEA¡¯s proposals had been prompted by 바카라사이트 withdrawal of support from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s funding councils.

¡°We need an agreed institutional subscription model in place in time for 1 August 2016 when grant funding comes to an end,¡± he said.

UUK also came out against 바카라사이트 HEA¡¯s plan to apply for chartered status, a move that, combined with 바카라사이트 introduction of membership fees for individual academics, could see increased costs being passed on to institutions.

Professor Thirunamachandran said that he felt that chartered status would ¡°enhance 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 sector and professional standing of individual staff¡±, but promised that 바카라사이트 HEA ¡°would want to consult fur바카라사이트r when 바카라사이트 higher education landscape is more settled¡±.

He added: ¡°At a time of greater focus on teaching quality and excellence both nationally and internationally, it would be unfortunate if 바카라사이트 sector decided not to support 바카라사이트 HEA.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com