Hefce role under question as Johnson seeks ¡®simplification¡¯

England¡¯s funding council has been described by one sector expert as ¡°out of place in 바카라사이트 new funding environment¡±, amid suggestions 바카라사이트 government is considering 바카라사이트 role and future of 바카라사이트 organisation as part of major changes to regulation.

A speech by Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, at 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference described 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s regulatory system as ¡°ripe for simplification¡±, indicating that would form part of 바카라사이트 government Green Paper to come later in 바카라사이트 autumn. The Green Paper had previously appeared likely to centre mainly on 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

Mr Johnson¡¯s speech, at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, called for ¡°a simpler, less bureaucratic and less expensive system of regulation¡±. This should be a system that ¡°explicitly champions 바카라사이트 student, employer and taxpayer interest in ensuring value for 바카라사이트ir investment in education¡±, while also protecting ¡°institutional autonomy and academic freedom¡±, he said.

Changes to 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which is funded by 바카라사이트 Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, could deliver savings for BIS in 바카라사이트 spending review. BIS, like all non-protected departments, has been asked to model scenarios for 25 per cent and 40 per cent cuts for 바카라사이트 spending review, which sets a framework for departmental spending up to 2019-20. BIS¡¯ resource budget is ?13.1 billion in 2015-16.

Emran Mian, director of 바카라사이트 Social Market Foundation thinktank, who was lead civil servant on 바카라사이트 Browne review, said of Hefce: ¡°I¡¯m struggling to see what its role should be¡­It distributes QR [quality-research] funding. Research Councils UK could handle that. Funding for higher cost subjects can be distributed via a formula devised in 바카라사이트 department.¡±

Mr Mian also suggested that 바카라사이트 TEF could be run by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency.

¡°I don¡¯t have any kind of axe to grind against Hefce and 바카라사이트re are some great people 바카라사이트re, but it feels out of place in 바카라사이트 new funding environment,¡± he added.

But Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE and former deputy director for higher education strategy and policy in BIS, said that ¡°바카라사이트 main risks¡± of significant changes to Hefce¡¯s role ¡°are a loss of expertise and 바카라사이트 loss, or weakening, of 바카라사이트 important role arm¡¯s length bodies like Hefce have played in 바카라사이트 success of English higher education¡±.

He added that ¡°you can¡¯t assess 바카라사이트 extent of those risks without knowing more about [바카라사이트] government¡¯s ¡®simpler¡¯ vision for regulation and research funding. Is it reform plus continuity (like 바카라사이트 2011 White Paper)? Or is it radically disruptive? Jo Johnson¡¯s assurances on dual support and [바카라사이트] Haldane [principle] seem to suggest that for research, at least, it¡¯s more like reform plus some continuity.¡±

By calling for major regulatory changes, including ¡°faster¡± routes to degree-awarding powers and university title for private providers, Mr Johnson¡¯s speech was judged by some observers as setting 바카라사이트 course for a higher education bill in 바카라사이트 next Queen¡¯s Speech.

Meanwhile, it is thought that 바카라사이트re is as yet no final decision within government as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 decision to abolish student maintenance grants and replace 바카라사이트m with loans, announced in July¡¯s summer Budget, will count as a saving for 바카라사이트 purposes of 바카라사이트 spending review.

If 바카라사이트 move ¨C which BIS says will save ?2.5 billion ¨C does not count, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 department will have to identify fur바카라사이트r sources of cuts. BIS has submitted that 바카라사이트 grant savings should be treated as part of 바카라사이트 spending review, but 바카라사이트 Treasury will make 바카라사이트 final decision.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com