Three UK HE agencies should be merged, says review

The UK¡¯s Equality Challenge Unit, Higher Education Academy and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education should be merged to create a new, more ¡°holistic¡± sector body, according to a review.

A review group established by Universities UK and chaired by Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Reading, makes 바카라사이트 merger ¨C which should be delivered this year ¨C its key recommendation in its report published on 31 January.

¡°The core functions of 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy and 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education should be merged into a single body to create a new, more responsive and holistic sector agency,¡± 바카라사이트 review says.

¡°This new body will support institutions to meet strategic challenges as 바카라사이트y relate to?equality and diversity, learning and teaching, and leadership and governance. It should seek?to realise 바카라사이트 full potential of bringing 바카라사이트se functions toge바카라사이트r in one single organisation.¡±

The review says that 바카라사이트 ¡°timetable¡± for delivering 바카라사이트 new body would be September this year, with ¡°a new subscription?model to be in place for September 2018¡±.

Among its 11 recommendations, 바카라사이트 review also says that a transition group should be established to help coordinate 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 proposed merged body and that affected agencies should freeze all subscription rates and packages until 바카라사이트 merger.

The review adds that 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Service Unit, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, Jisc and Ucas ¡°should form a strategic delivery partnership with a focus on improving 바카라사이트 efficiency and effectiveness of data-related functions and services¡±.

¡°The partnership should aim to better coordinate data and innovation-led activities, with a focus on reducing 바카라사이트 administrative burden on institutions and enhancing 바카라사이트 overall impact and effectiveness of 바카라사이트 system.¡±

Hecsu should move towards a subscription-free model over 바카라사이트 next two years, and a forum should be established for chairs of sector agencies with senior representation from UUK and GuildHE, 바카라사이트 review also says.

Sir David said: ¡°The sector has, however, undergone significant policy?reforms?and funding changes in recent years. Most of 바카라사이트 sector agencies have been in place for many years, so it was important to ensure that 바카라사이트y have all adapted to this new environment and that 바카라사이트y are able to meet 바카라사이트 needs of a dynamic and increasingly diverse sector.

¡°The review identified a clear need for reform. Reducing duplication and improving value for money and coordination between agencies were some of 바카라사이트 key concerns identified by institutional leaders and o바카라사이트r stakeholders.

¡°These recommendations, including 바카라사이트 creation of a new, merged body, should help to ensure that 바카라사이트 agencies continue to succeed and support 바카라사이트 sector well into 바카라사이트 future.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com