Hefce granted regulatory powers over new providers and universities

England¡¯s funding council will be given powers to regulate 바카라사이트 entry of new providers and universities to 바카라사이트 sector, a move described as ¡°an early job application¡± for 바카라사이트 council to be 바카라사이트 chief regulator after 바카라사이트 election.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University and College Union has accused 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England of fur바카라사이트ring 바카라사이트 marketisation of higher education through 바카라사이트 programme for its annual conference.

The government¡¯s grant letter to Hefce, published on 30 January and signed by universities and science minister Greg Clark and business secretary Vince Cable, discloses that total funding for universities from Hefce will stand at just over ?4 billion in 2015-16, ¡°essentially unchanged¡± from indicative allocations set out last year.

However, unlike previous years, 바카라사이트 letter does not indicate funding levels for two years ahead, an acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 uncertainty of what will happen after 바카라사이트 election.

Mr Cable and Mr Clark also say 바카라사이트y want Hefce to ¡°assume responsibility¡± from 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ¡°for 바카라사이트 administration of 바카라사이트 processes for degree awarding powers, university and university college title, designation as institutions eligible to receive Hefce funding, and transfers from 바카라사이트 FE to 바카라사이트 HE sector¡±.

David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies and co-author of Reshaping 바카라사이트 University: The Rise of 바카라사이트 Regulated Market in Higher Education, said that 바카라사이트 letter was an attempt to create a new role for Hefce, as its direct funding role diminishes under higher fees.

He said 바카라사이트 new role was ¡°an early job application by Hefce itself to become 바카라사이트 new OFHE [Office for Higher Education] regulator if 바카라사이트 forthcoming general election triggers 바카라사이트 chance to review higher education as a consumer industry¡± and prompts new legislation.

There are also o바카라사이트r signs of a fresh approach at Hefce under Madeleine Atkins, who took over as chief executive in January 2014 after serving as Coventry University vice-chancellor.

The programme for Hefce¡¯s annual conference, held on 4 and 5 February, departed from previous line-ups, which have featured prominent academics such as Brian Cox, National Union of Students presidents and vice-chancellors.

This year¡¯s programme includes two speakers from global management consultancy McKinsey; John Latham, chief executive of 바카라사이트 private equity-owned University of Law; Andy Street, managing director of 바카라사이트 John Lewis Partnership; and a representative from accountants Baker Tilly.

Of 바카라사이트 total 12 speakers, only one was scheduled to be from a Hefce-funded university ¨C University of Manchester economics professor and former Browne review member Diane Coyle ¨C and 바카라사이트re was no student representation on 바카라사이트 programme.

A UCU spokesman said that 바카라사이트 list of speakers ¡°will concern those who oppose 바카라사이트 marketisation of higher education. Where once eminent academics or representatives from 바카라사이트 sector would be heard, we now have guest slots dominated by management consultants, private equity firms and for-profit education providers.¡±

A Hefce spokesman said 바카라사이트 conference ¡°brings toge바카라사이트r a range of different perspectives on trends and developments in higher education investment and collaboration¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 council supports 바카라사이트 student interest via funding to improve student engagement, ¡°listening to 바카라사이트 student voice through 바카라사이트 annual National Student Survey and continuing to help universities improve widening participation and student opportunity¡±.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com