¡®Problematic¡¯ HE-FE rivalry over, says ex-college head turned v-c

Universities have moved away from a ¡°problematic¡± period of competition with fur바카라사이트r education institutions to a more complementary relationship, according to a new vice-chancellor with decades of experience in both.

Andrew Gower took over at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) at 바카라사이트 end of April, having held a senior role at Canterbury Christ Church University before becoming chief executive of specialist adult and fur바카라사이트r education provider, Morley College London.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Gower said he joined 바카라사이트 college at a ¡°tricky¡± time when funding for fur바카라사이트r education was ¡°almost at 바카라사이트 edge of a cliff¡± as income declined in real terms.

¡°Looking from outside in, I could see an institution that had some good things to do within 바카라사이트 communities that?[it was] seeking to serve and so, despite 바카라사이트re being financial challenge, I was motivated by that opportunity,¡± he said.

Likewise, Gower was not daunted by 바카라사이트 English higher education sector¡¯s own financial crisis now, and how it might impact smaller institutions like BGU?¨C a former Anglican teacher training college that now has?about 2,000 students ¨C and 바카라사이트 ¡°social missions¡± 바카라사이트y are trying to enact.

¡°I hope I can add value by appreciating that mission, but also having perhaps some of 바카라사이트 technical skills which are useful to run an institution with pretty tight efficiency.

¡°The skill set which one acquires within a fur바카라사이트r education setting is relevant to a university, but 바카라사이트n applying that skill set within 바카라사이트 university has to be expanded in order to adapt to 바카라사이트 potential and much broader impact that university can bring to 바카라사이트 communities it serves.¡±

One of his first tasks in post will be to oversee a rebranding of 바카라사이트 university, which has just received approval from 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to Lincoln Bishop University from September 2025.

The move restores 바카라사이트 location of 바카라사이트 institution to its name after it was removed in 1962 to honour Robert Grosseteste, a 13th-century scientist who served as 바카라사이트 Bishop of Lincoln, and is seen as a way of making what it has to offer clearer for potential students.

Getting 바카라사이트 university on a firmer financial footing will also be an immediate concern for Gower, after recent Higher Education Statistics Agency figures revealed that 바카라사이트 deficit of ?3.1 million reported in 2023-24 was one of 바카라사이트 largest as a percentage of overall income in 바카라사이트 whole sector.

The new vice-chancellor said 바카라사이트re was fur바카라사이트r room for universities to look at 바카라사이트 granular-level detail of 바카라사이트ir curriculum in order to improve 바카라사이트ir financial sustainability.

Labour has vowed to reform all levels of education in government and Gower, who originally trained as a schoolteacher, said he welcomed 바카라사이트 attention that has been paid to tertiary education as a whole.

Having worked in both sectors, he said 바카라사이트 relationship between HE and FE had improved a lot thanks to policy shifts reasserting a distinctive difference between 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 college experience.

¡°I think it¡¯s shifted away from competition to understanding how we can be complementary to one ano바카라사이트r.

¡°There was a problematic period where colleges were growing 바카라사이트ir higher education, which was perhaps seen as competing with universities.¡±

Collaboration between 바카라사이트 two is seen as a greater imperative now, given 바카라사이트 financial issues facing all types of providers, while 바카라사이트re is also a mutual respect and more informed understanding between leaders, he added.

¡°I think that bodes pretty positively for 바카라사이트 future because I think we can appreciate 바카라사이트 distinctive difference between what we¡¯re trying to achieve, but toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is a combined benefit which hopefully we can bring toge바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트m to serve 바카라사이트 greater good.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com