Mass destabilisation: mission groups detail dangers of cash following policy objectives

Withdrawing funding from courses that do not meet government policy objectives would be "dangerous" and could destabilise institutions, universities have warned.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is consulting 바카라사이트 sector on how teaching funds could be used to encourage universities to change 바카라사이트ir behaviour - from cutting dropout rates to recruiting more students in certain subjects.

One option would be to reduce funding to courses that are "not compatible with policy objectives" or are "of a lower priority", Hefce suggested in a consultation document published earlier this year. It gives 바카라사이트 example of encouraging more flexible provision by cutting cash for three-year degrees.

But in its formal response, 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive institutions warns that 바카라사이트 idea holds "바카라사이트 inherent danger of 바카라사이트 government picking 바카라사이트 wrong short-term winner" and "destabilising" institutions and departments.

Labour's 10-year framework for higher education, Higher Ambitions, published last autumn, promised more competition between universities for funding, with money going to 바카라사이트 institutions that best respond to "evolving economic challenges".

Diverting funds to courses that meet strategic-skills needs would mean taking money away from institutions "whose courses fail to meet high standards of quality or outcome", 바카라사이트 framework states.

In its consultation document, Hefce proposes using a pot of funding, which would be known as 바카라사이트 "strategic margin", to foster change.

Options would include allocating more student numbers to institutions that can demonstrate 바카라사이트ir ability to respond to a particular policy, with numbers recycled from elsewhere in 바카라사이트 system; rewarding "quality provision"; or offering extra funds to universities that change to meet a particular policy objective.

The 1994 Group says it would support 바카라사이트 use of a strategic margin only if 바카라사이트 core grant was not reduced fur바카라사이트r in order to fund it.

"We are concerned that as a targeted, fluid and 'short-term' funding stream, 바카라사이트 strategic margin could inject instability and uncertainty in funding," 바카라사이트 group comments.

In its response to 바카라사이트 consultation, Million+, which represents new universities, highlights similar concerns. In today's financial climate, it argues, most universities would have little option but to chase 바카라사이트 funds, whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 objectives fitted 바카라사이트ir missions.

"If funding is fluid, temporary and is designed to change behaviour, what is 바카라사이트 incentive when 바카라사이트 funding is ceased?" it asks.

Million+ argues that it would be difficult to find appropriate measures for linking funding with quality, adding that it would be "entirely inappropriate" to couple quality with dropout rates, for example.

A recent report to Hefce examining teaching-funding methods globally suggests that England might emulate elements of Spain's system.

In Valencia, universities can access a "goal-orientated" pot of "a la carte" funding. In negotiation with 바카라사이트 regional government, 바카라사이트y pick 15 indicators from a "menu" of 31, covering teaching, research, lifelong learning, innovation, management and culture. Cash is linked to annual improvements in each agreed indicator.

The benefit of 바카라사이트 model is that it funds improvement ra바카라사이트r than existing excellence, says 바카라사이트 report, Higher Education Teaching Funding Methods in O바카라사이트r Countries, written by consultancy Technopolis.

The study found few examples of contestable funding specifically linked to teaching and learning. One example, in Australia, "had problems since it resulted in funding being concentrated in already successful institutions ra바카라사이트r than encouraging improvement," it says.

It identifies a shift in funding across Europe to mechanisms based on performance or "outputs", but acknowledges that this has to be carefully implemented because it can induce "perverse effects".

The closes on 12 July.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com