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Access Agreements for 2013-14: What has changed?. Jessica Woodsford OFFA Policy Adviser. Office for Fair Access. Independent NDPB Established in 2004 HE Act alongside the introduction of variable fees in 2006-7 Aim is to safeguard and promote fair access to higher education.
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Access Agreements for 2013-14: What has changed? Jessica Woodsford OFFA Policy Adviser
Office for Fair Access • Independent NDPB • Established in 2004 HE Act alongside the introduction of variable fees in 2006-7 • Aim is to safeguard and promote fair access to higher education. • All English universities and colleges that want to charge higher fees must have an Access Agreement with us.
Our priorities for 2012-13 • Importance of outreach in achieving long term social mobility • You should concentrate on access and retention measures with a proven success record. • welcome efforts to try new approaches, provided that you build in effective evaluation and monitoring from the start. • Importance of evaluation • Inclusion of expenditure retention and student success activities • Welcome/expect collaboration
2013-14 Access AgreementWhat will change? • 2013-14 access agreements follows similar guidelines to 2012-13. • There are some material differences: • Inclusion of part-time and ITT • Consultation with students • Equality and diversity • Collaborative working and collaborative targets
Inclusion of part-time and ITT ITT • For 2012-13 ITT submitted as a separate annex • For 2013-14 ITT incorporated in main agreement Part-time • 2013-14 access agreement will cover 2012-13 as well • Regulations cover: • 25% FTE or above • Basic fee of £4,500 in an academic year • Maximum fee of £6,750
Consultation with students &Equality and diversity Consultation with students • In 2012-13 the majority of institutions reported consulting students. • For 2013-14 require a statement on the extent you have consulted students. Equality and Diversity • Demonstrate you have taken equality issues into consideration • Linking widening participation and equality and diversity plans
Collaborative working and collaborative targets • Encouraging commitment to collaborative working • Some plans in a developmental stage • More details available now plans have developed • Include collaborative IAG • Collaborative targets give the opportunity to gain recognition for work that may not contribute to entrants to your institution
Time Line for 2013-14 Access Agreement • Mid April: Guidance on 2013-14 • OFFA available to answer questions and offer support • 31st May: Submission • June – July: OFFA contacts within institutions available for queries/amendments • 31st July– OFFA announcement of decisions
Contact Details Rachel Wright OFFA Policy Adviser 0117 931 7274 rachel.wright@offa. org.uk Jessica Woodsford OFFA Policy Adviser 0117 931 7097 jessica.woodsford@ offa.org.uk