Margot Finn

This is super fascinating and I'm interested in thinking about what we gain and lose with this kind of thing but the subfields that could benefit from this kind of technology are the first ones to have been completely hollowed out in higher ed.

Great chance to get immersed in these fantastic collections, and have some quiet writing time in a beautiful Cambridge setting.

Free access to British Newspaper Archive

Government would protect interests of "students, taxpayers, and research" in provider insolvency And the committee seems to think there is one on the way before 2026.

Primary legislation has been promised that "locks in" inflationary fee increases for English HEIs but ' this will also cement the promised link to quality (though Smith added that the current TEF is not fit for this purpose – implying that for the two years ahead all providers will get this uplift.'

'But skills minister Jacqui Smith (pictured right), whose brief includes higher education, and the Office for Students chief executive Susan Lapworth disputed that a provider was on the brink.

“I do not think that before the end of the year there is an imminent collapse,” Smith said.' 3/3

'The committee had heard about one institution that had been approached by another regarding a potential merger. The institution approached had been “doing their due diligence” by gathering information, but after examining the financial situation concluded that the other provider “can’t go on”.' 2/3

'“During that roundtable, we heard that a provider could collapse before the end of the year,” she [Helen Hayes] said. As the hearing was in late November, this was “essentially a warning of an imminent collapse of a higher education institution”, she added.' 1/3

'In response to questions...Chapman said that what he hoped to see [was]...a “robust, equitable way of assessing [research] to make sure that we drive real excellence into our outputs and impacts”, and “alignment going forward” so that the REF “helps [UKRI] to deliver on all of our objectives”.' 3/3

'Speaking to journalists at a summit hosted by UKRI on 24 November, Chapman said it had been worthwhile to halt the REF so that it could be “fully aligned with government policy”.' Given where we are in the REF2029 cycle, rather limited levers there other than a very skewed funding algorithm? 2/3

'Ian Chapman (pictured) said he had been “very involved” in instigating a pause in the 2029 research assessment exercise and also in subsequent discussions about changes to the REF.' 1/3

Manchester universities unite to offer joint alumni discount Joint offer builds on existing regional partnerships as higher education institutions lean on collaboration to solve funding crisis

Interesting development: all graduates of both Man Met and U Manchester will, from next year, be eligible for a 10% fee discount on postgraduate programmes at either institution, in an effort to bolster enrolment. There's a (selective) extant 20% reduction PG scheme at U Leicester and De Montfort.

Image of a headless horseman, on a horse, in black and white. Cover of Captain Mayne Reid's Headless Horseman, in 20 parts (Wikipedia).

Paffey continues: unconditional offers are back, are they a problem? JS: Does not believe in student caps and does think someone should engage with the sector on unconditional offers. 17/n

Asked about what government will do about subject cold spots given it has ruled out student number controls, JS states that HEIs have 'been provided the wherewithal' to address this. [Where is the wherewithal?]. Paffey (Lab) Is govt monitoring cold spots? JS: will consider it. 16/n

JS: TEF is not good enough now to do this; will be in 2 years' time. Swallow (Lab) asks about casualisation of staff, esp. ECRs. JS: lack of certainty in HEI funding has underpinned this; the new 'certainty' will help solve it. [International levy, anyone?]. Staff are 'at the heart' of HEIs. 15/n

REF pause mentioned, not elaborated. Swallow (Lab) what about research in A&H fields that don't align so well with government missions/IS? There is also scope for research in Humanities and Arts for (unspecified) 'important reasons'. Vince (Lab) Is TEF good enough to be tied to tuition fees? 14/n

Sewards (Lab) raises research: researchers cannot now recuperate sufficient cost to conduct research with integrity. JS lobs that to DSIT/UKRI (not present). Asked what the WP's 'more strategic' distribution of research funding means, lobbed back to DSIT. Collaborate on research more HEIs. 13/n

Hayes observes that this is quite a significant proportion of HEIs. She urges more clarity on competition law. LD asks if tuition increase has been wiped out by NI contributions. JS: it does not wipe out the significance of the promise that the increase will be inflation-linked each year. 12/n

But JS concedes there might be a role for an HE commissioner charged with looking for gaps. [That's something of a departure]. Lapworth: OfS's 2nd and 3rd highest risk category: they have about 50 HEIs in these. They are more worried about the small ones than the large ones. 11/n

Peter Swallow (Lab) asks about protecting smaller subjects. JS: universities should be thinking first about how to protect student choice. Mentions extra payment for costly subjects. [No joy for modern languages here alas]. Refrain is that HEIs pride themselves on autonomy so are responsible. 10/n

Asked about universities' civic role, which government would like to increase, JS thinks there might be some evidence somewhere of this. [No mention of KEF or REF ICSs....] Greenwich Kent merger has come up now. Does government have a role? JS: universities are responsible for themselves. 9/n

The closer an HEI gets to insolvency, the less the OfS's regulatory 'bite' has teeth, Lapworth notes. So in that case, they would turn to government. [See above for government view]. 8/n

So, students, including international students, could be 'taught out' in these circumstances. [Staff have disappeared again]. OfS asked if student protection plans are adequate if a large provider goes bust? OfS does not have powers or £ to intervene in larger organisations. 7/n

Amazing: LD question mentions what happens to staff (not only students)! JS: responds in terms of students: their safeguarding is important. They might also look at safeguarding research. [Which, obviously, can be conducted by....]. Insolvency law allows 'continued trading' during liquidation. 6/n

Susan Lapworth (CEO of OfS) confirms she does not know of a university due to go bust by the end of 2025. There has been 'a slow deterioration' of finances this year. Helen Hayes: how confident is OfS that universities are being frank about their finances? They would expect to be on top of it. 5/n

Helen Hayes asks how the government balances desire for economic growth with potential collapse of universities. JS: tuition fee increase provides 'certainty of income' to address this. [Any admissions officers or HoDs out there experiencing student fees as 'certainty of income'?]. 4/n

What would the government do if an HEI became insolvent? JS: We would not intervene solely in the interests of the provider, but would potentially intervene on behalf of students and research. [It's a good thing then that HEIs don't have any staff]. 3/n

But, to 'deliver our ambition' the government does need to create more financial sustainability for universities. Hence the inflationary fee increases and DSIT's announcements yesterday on quantum of research funding. But WP calls for 'specialisation' and 'efficiency' to make this happen. 2/n

The chair notes that at a Chatham House rules private roundtable with universities last week, it was stated that 1 HE 'provider' may go bust this calendar year. Asks Jacqui Smith if she agrees: not likely before the end of the year (2025). She would have expected to have heard about it. 1/n

BBC Parliament - Select Committees Coverage of select committee proceedings at the Palace of Westminster.

House of Commons Education Committee on Universities and the threat of insolvency starts its last session at 10:00.

Important role - new Chair of the Board of @ukri.org
£33k for one day a week. Closes 11 Jan. Would be good from my perspective to get someone who understands higher education and the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences!
plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetai...