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SROC Conference University of Leicester 13 April 2010 Universities Challenged: an overview of HE Professor Sir Robert Burgess Vice-Chancellor University of Leicester www.le.ac.uk The Politics of Higher Education • Election Year – Political ‘football’ – Another budget? – Comprehensive Spending Review • National Issues – – – – Widening Participation (social mobility/social justice) Elitism Credit and Student Mobility Role of Information Advice and Guidance Key Contextual Issues • Elite to Mass Higher Education • Global Economic Indicators – Borrowing, Endowments, Utilities – HE and Economic Development • Demography – Implications for Public Funding • Policy Issues – External Drivers on Higher Education Institutions Financial Issues • Global Economic Context and Cuts • Staffing – Pensions – Pay and NI • Government Figures – – – – – Annual Government Investment HE Public Investment Growth since 1997 Research Funding Growth 2009-11 Total University Income 2007-08 Proposed Reduction over next 3 years £12.3b 25% 7% £23b £950m Student Finance • National Position of NUS • Fees – the Cap • Student Numbers, ASNs and Recording Systems • Student Support Costs • Demographic Downturn • Diversity • Curriculum/Technological Developments • International Students as a Solution, but … – … points based immigration and visas – … changing the shape of the institution and the curriculum – …potential for additional fees to be eradicated by the cuts – … development of international partnerships Student Demand and Expectations • • • • Diversity and Widening Participation Class, Age, Gender and Ethnicity The Market Changing Relationships with Schools and Colleges • Employer Engagement • Consumer-like Behaviour – Education as a Commodity? • Development of Technology – – – – – – – Hardware to Wireless E-learning Social Networking Sites Student Record Systems Teaching Rooms Libraries Developing the Research Infrastructure • Growing Requirements of Staff and Students Quality and Standards • • • • • • • Degree Classifications Plagiarism External Examiners Assessment and Feedback Contact Time vs Learning Hours Institutional Audit Public Information Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Assessment • • • • • • Who Designs the Curriculum? Staff-Student Engagement Virtual Tutors Small Group Teaching E-learning, Blogs and Podcasts Challenge of the ‘Google Generation’ Issues in Assessment • Patterns of Assessment and Types of Examination • To Classify or Not to Classify? • The Higher Education Achievement Report • Diploma Supplement and Transcripts • Unique Learner Numbers The Honours Degree and the HEAR • Honours Degree Classification System No Longer Fit for Purpose • Proposals – Introduce Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) by 2010/11 – Develop Transcript and link it to the European Diploma Supplement – Institutional Verification of Non-Formal Learning – focus on achievement – Retain, but enhance, Summative Judgement The HEAR - where are we now? • Piloting, Trialling and Refining HEAR Structure within 18 institutions (plus 20 volunteers for a second phase) • Working with Student and Employer Groups to Test Approaches • Consideration of Electronic and Cost Issues and Implications • Working on Assessment Issues and Development of Recording of Non-Formal Learning • Establishing a Programme of Awareness Raising Regional and National Events • Production of a Simple Guide for Employers What is a HEAR? An electronic document produced by a higher education institution which provides a record of student achievement during their time at university. It will adhere to a template and be verified by the Academic Registrar or equivalent officer. It can be accessed at any time during a student’s career with the institution. In its paper form it will be no longer than six pages and will be issued at the discretion of the institution. Higher Ambitions • • • • • Commitment to Widening Participation Student Employability Contribution to Economic Development Concentration of Research Shift from Disciplinary to InterDisciplinary • Research Capacity and Commercialisation • • • • Research Impact Develop Business Links with Universities High Quality Teaching The University and its Region