GuildHE Highlights 2017/18 This year has been another bumper year of activity at GuildHE. The 2017 HE and Research Act brought new challenges to the sector, with two new regulatory bodies created - the OfS and UKRI. We’ve engaged with government on the post-18 funding review, the industrial strategy, skills reform, civic society and Brexit as well as further changes to TEF and REF and a major lobbying exercise on knowledge exchange and HEIF. And collaborated on sector agency reform and the aproval of QAA and HESA as designated bodies.
117
Meetings with Government
402
Meetings with Sector Agencies
Press and Publications Joint research with Uniac on UKVI visa compliance Degree Algorithms Report Spoke at 41 conferences and events Blogs and press publications including: BBC Radio 4: Call You and Yours - “Has anything put you off university” THE: V-C Pay: universities and their leaders should show some humility WonkHE: For accelerated degrees, do we feel the need for speed? Telegraph: Degree Algorithms work Research Fortnight: Parallel Lines (Column on post18 funding review)
Responded to 27 sector consultation inc. Post-18 Education and Funding Review Lords: Citizenship and Civic Engagement Migration Advisory Committee: EEA-Workers and International Students
The OfS and Regulating the Sector HEFCE: Strength in Places Fund consultation Commons Public Accounts Committee: The Higher Education Market
UKSCQA: Revised UK Quality Code consultation
75
Member Visits
Key Wins for our Members Lobbied for, and achieved more funding bands for OfS registration fees so smaller providers pay less, and a subsidy for micro providers.
Introduction of the RED (Research England Development) Fund, after extensive GuildHE lobbying on HEIF. Ensured that doctoral loans will be available for all institutions with franchised or validated provision rather than just those with RDAP. Preserved student engagement as key feature of UK HE in both the quality code and OfS registration conditions. Successfully negotiated a reduced fee for our members to the Fundraising Regulator (from £1000 to £250). Championed the increased recognition of "impact" arising from research in the REF - likely to boost member success.
Thank You! From the bottom of our hearts thank you to you and your staff for helping our small team have such a big impact on the sector. Attending network meetings, responding to our calls for evidence, arranging visits and keeping in touch has all contributed to these wins. We are only as strong as our members, so thank you for your continued engagement.