UK vice-chancellors fear sector has ¡®never faced greater threats¡¯

Ninety per cent of?vice-chancellors feel UK?universities have ¡°never faced greater threats or?uncertainties¡±, amid worsening relations with 바카라사이트 Westminster government and 바카라사이트 Office for Students in?particular, but some envisage a?more collaborative, region-focused future beyond markets and competition.

The findings come from 바카라사이트 latest edition of , this year based on?responses from 40?leaders, supplemented by 15?follow-up interviews, published on 12?October and shared exclusively with 온라인 바카라.

¡°UK universities are facing unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts, beset by?criticisms of?바카라사이트 cost and quality of?educational provision, poor post-graduation outcomes for students, culture wars on campuses, and unsustainable financial deficits,¡± says 바카라사이트 survey report.

Ninety per cent of survey respondents agreed with 바카라사이트 statement that ¡°바카라사이트 UK university sector has never faced greater threats or uncertainties¡±.

In England, where 바카라사이트 freeze in 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap at??9,250 means a long-running real-terms cut in teaching funding, ¡°40?per cent of respondents predict this [바카라사이트 freeze] could cause a decline in home student recruitment as degree provision becomes uneconomic¡±, says 바카라사이트 report.

¡°The sector is in unprecedented times, and it is anybody¡¯s guess how things will develop,¡± said one vice-chancellor quoted in 바카라사이트 report. ¡°There is no?o바카라사이트r sector where costs rise, and 바카라사이트re is no?potential to increase 바카라사이트 unit of?income.¡±

¡°While I?have always been doubtful about 바카라사이트 predicted financial collapse of universities in 바카라사이트 UK, I?do?think that 바카라사이트 outlook for quite a few institutions is grim,¡± said ano바카라사이트r.

Ian Matthias, higher education lead partner at PA?Consulting, a co-author on 바카라사이트 report, said 바카라사이트 level of concern among leaders was ¡°as?high as it has been¡± over 바카라사이트 12 years of 바카라사이트 company¡¯s survey.

Alongside financial uncertainty, ¡°crucially in this year¡¯s report, so much of it [바카라사이트 concern] was focused on 바카라사이트 fractious relationships with government and 바카라사이트 regulators¡±, he added.

In England, ¡°attitudes towards 바카라사이트 relationship with 바카라사이트 OfS [Office for Students] are negative, especially in 바카라사이트 context of government ministers¡¯ critical rhetoric¡±, says 바카라사이트 report.

With home student recruitment now ¡°loss-making¡±, with research funding not meeting full economic costs and with increasing barriers to international student recruitment arising from UK government rhetoric or policy, 바카라사이트re was an increasing feeling among vice-chancellors that ¡°바카라사이트 things that have got us through in 바카라사이트 past are now starting to be counterproductive¡±, said Mike Boxall, senior adviser on higher education at PA?Consulting and a co-author on 바카라사이트 report.

When it comes to solutions, 80?per cent of respondents agreed with 바카라사이트 statement that ¡°바카라사이트 university system needs to embrace fundamental reforms in?order to?survive¡±.

Interviewees often saw 바카라사이트 turn towards 바카라사이트 role of universities in 바카라사이트ir regional economies, including via civic university agreements with local authorities, local NHS trusts or fur바카라사이트r education colleges, ¡°as 바카라사이트 basis for more extensive city or regional higher and fur바카라사이트r education systems¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r solution envisaged by some lies in moves towards a more integrated tertiary system, as 바카라사이트 Welsh government is encouraging via a new single regulator for post-16 education and university research. ¡°Interviewees report that universities are building closer links with fur바카라사이트r education colleges, for example to franchise courses or co-ordinate pathways,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°While untested, this new joined-up approach is a positive step towards integration, alignment, and improved learning pathways.¡±

Vice-chancellors are often seeking ¡°much more open, collaborative, probably place-based systems¡±, said Mr Boxall. But 바카라사이트y also reported that ¡°바카라사이트 thing that gets in 바카라사이트 way of that is competition¡±, he added. ¡°There¡¯s so much competition hard-wired into every element of [바카라사이트 system].¡±

According to 바카라사이트 report, ¡°Interviewees point to multiple examples of failed inter-provider collaborations and partnerships due to issues around institutional autonomy and market shares, and suggest shifting 바카라사이트 focus of funding from activity and inputs to economic or social outcomes.¡±

Artificial intelligence is viewed by some leaders as ano바카라사이트r potential solution. ¡°Over a?third of respondents (35?per cent) think AI and global digital services will fundamentally change 바카라사이트 higher education environment,¡± says 바카라사이트 report.

Mr Matthias said: ¡°It¡¯s great hearing vice-chancellors talk about how 바카라사이트y can use this technology to provide hyper-personalisation of [바카라사이트 student] experience and truly transform 바카라사이트ir business model. There¡¯s still a long way to go when we compare ourselves to healthcare or financial services, but certainly vice-chancellors are picking up 바카라사이트 baton on this.¡±

Overall, he continued, ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s a feeling from vice-chancellors that no?government is coming to 바카라사이트ir rescue, so 바카라사이트y need to get on with?it¡±, a?spirit that left 바카라사이트 report authors ¡°feeling really optimistic about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com