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CVU annual conference, 19 September 2014

This presentation by Julian Gravatt discusses the trends and characteristics of the English College Higher Education system, as well as the implications of public spending on partnerships with universities. It explores the challenges and opportunities in higher vocational education and highlights the need for reforms in the current system. The talk also covers the impact of deficit reduction and spending cuts on the higher education budget.

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CVU annual conference, 19 September 2014

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  1. CVU annual conference, 19 September 2014 • Public spending on higher education • and the implications for partnership activity • Julian Gravatt, Assistant Chief Executive, AoC • Julian_Gravatt@aoc.co.uk

  2. What I’ll talk about Higher vocational education Public spending on higher education Some suggestions

  3. English College HE Characteristics 100,000 students in 280 colleges (range 100 to 3,500) Local, employer-led, technical, some niche c50% apply for one course/one institution (UCAS) 70% live within 25 miles of campus Student cohort more disadvantaged than HE average Partnerships with Universities long-standing & important

  4. English College HE trends Source: AoC summary of HEFCE’s combined HESA/ILR statistics S

  5. The English HE system – not a normal market Supply Inertia (heritage, three-year degrees etc) Longish lead-times to respond to demand but shortening Full-time UG fees close to the £9,000 cap Universities compete to be higher up league tables Demand Applicants need to be qualified to make a choice Degrees are positional goods Higher fees are paid after completion (no fees upfront) Living costs loom larger than fees to many students

  6. “Breaking the mould” Analysis English post-secondary higher-level skills system weak and small Policy & history biased towards full-time residential three-year degree model Proposals Re-balance the system Different approaches to validation Colleges/universities to work on progression

  7. The bigger spending picture Government plans Deficit reduction Spending cuts 2009-18 Spending review in 2015 Unprotected departments 9.1% of GDP (2013-14) 7.8% of GDP (2015-16) 5.4% of GDP (2018-19) Loans may be a safe haven

  8. The HE budget – up 26% in 4 years Source: AoC summary of HEFCE grant letters for 2010 & 2014, BIS annual accounts

  9. Revenue spending in HE after 2015 BIS revenue budget £13.2 billion in 2015-16 (£8 billion HE) Spending plans imply 31% cuts to unprotected depts (2015-18) IFS scenarios for UUK to cut RDEL (back in October 2013) 1. Breach the science/research ringfence (£4.6 bil budget) 2. Cut Medicine & STEM funding (involves raising fee cap) 3. Switch from HE maintenance grants to HE loans 4. Reduce number of FT HE students 5. Cut 19+ FE/Skills budget further (on top of 35% cuts 2009-15)

  10. HE student loans after 2015 Some options to reduce net loan outlays or RAB charge Tuition fee loans to cover less than 100% of tuition fees Graduates to repay loans faster, earlier or for longer (ie a tax) Tighter conditions for maintenance loans than fee loans Limit loan access to prime borrowers (eg via entry qualifications) Wait and see (what happens with the recovery & repayments)

  11. The timetable The spending decisions HEFE grant letter (by January 2015) HEFCE policy on quality thresholds in uncapped market General election (May 2015) Spending review after the election Quick BIS decisions needed to change things for 2016-17 Recruitment for September 2015 is uncapped Any reform won’t really bite until 2017-18 Result You have time to think and plan

  12. Suggestions Where we are and may be Changes to public spending permanent These are long-term trends which take time to implement Loans have been a financial safety net for HE Demand exists for HE but it is evolving Technology and working lives are changing faster Current HE system may not be financially sustainable University roots into local communities and economies matter

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