October - December 2010

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has set out the funding for higher education in 2011-12 and beyond in the annual grant letter to HEFCE.

The individual budgets for the seven UK Research Councils over the 2011/12-2014/15 spending review period were announced by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science.

December 2010 Newsletter now available to download.

The UKCGE Offices will be closed from Wednesday 22nd December until Tuesday 4th January. Any event bookings made during this time will be confirmed in the New Year. For urgent queries, please call 07858 522 130.

UKCGE and QAA Scotland announce programme and open booking for event, looking at issues for Scottish HEIs, on 21st January 2011 in Edinburgh.

Event to be held on 24th January 2011 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bristol.

A new Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research has been launched by the UK’s research funding bodies. The aim of the Concordat is to create a greater focus on and help embed public engagement with research across all disciplines in the higher education and research sectors.

A report launched by Universities UK highlights the crucial role higher education plays in boosting the UK creative economy - an industry that is worth almost £60bn to the economy – and demonstrates why sustaining that contribution with continued investment, will become increasingly important to economic recovery.

Research Councils UK believes that research is at the heart of the UK’s long-term wellbeing and economic growth and welcome the Chancellor, George Osborne, and Business Secretary, Vince Cable’s, announcement of the Government's Growth Review.

Programme announced for joint UKCGE-ARMA event on 9th December 2010

A new Academy briefing paper has been published which identifies challenges to and opportunities for UK higher education institutions in the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA.)

The Academy will be revising the UKPSF following a consultation with the sector, which it launches today.

HEPI analysis provides a summary of the differences between the Browne Review and the government's proposals; considers whether these proposals meet the two main objectives of reducing public expenditure and improving university teaching by increasing student choice; and examines the claim that the repayment scheme is progressive.

Universities UK responded to the report for the UK higher education funding bodies looking at how best to assess the positive impact of academic research.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) have identified e-infrastructure for research as an important area for the future

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the findings of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) pilot scheme that demonstrates it is possible to assess the economic and societal benefits arising from research and how this can be achieved across all disciplines.

The wealth of impacts of academic research for the benefit of the economy and society can now be assessed, described and rewarded, according to a report to the four UK higher education funding bodies published today. The report sets out the findings of expert panels that have been piloting ground-breaking proposals for assessing the positive impact of research.

A new report from Swansea University available to download now.

Follow the Council, @ukcge.

Universities and colleges offering degrees or modules in partnership with employers, private providers and overseas colleges will have improved guidance available to them, following additions to the Code of practice published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The guidance also relates to courses leading to joint awards between two or more organisations.

The university think tank million+ has expressed profound concerns ahead of the Government’s response to the Browne Review, saying that MPs should think again about cutting public investment in undergraduate teaching.

New evidence on taught postgraduate funding demonstrates complacency of Browne report.

Salzburg II Recommendations approved by the EUA Council.

EUA Council adopt a revised policy document for EUA on quality and quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area.

Survey points to taught postgraduate students' worries over the cost of courses.

Professor Steve Smith comments on the impact of the Government Spending reviews on UK Universities and the long term effects society and economy.

Universities in England face funding cuts of £4.2bn in the coming Spending Review, an e-mail leaked to the BBC News website suggests.

The university think tank million+ has written to all MPs warning them that if Wednesday’s Spending Review adopts the Browne Review’s recommendation to cut direct public investment in universities, responsibility for the future funding of higher education will be transferred to students and graduates. This will mean much higher fees but could still leave universities much worse off than at present.

The UK Council for Graduate Education is seeking nominees from its members for election to the Executive Committee.

A new report released by Research Councils UK (RCUK) presents the case for public funding of UK research and why it is so vital for our future prosperity.

Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive of HEFCE has responded to Lord Browne's Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.

Higher Education Academy respond to Lord Browne’s independent review into higher education funding and student finance in England.

Universities UK has responded to the publication of Lord Browne’s independent review into higher education funding and student finance in England.

Responding to the Browne Review of university fees and funding the university think tank million+ has said that the majority of students will pay much more for their education whilst universities could be £500-£600 million worse-off than at present.

RCUK response to Lord Browne's review.

"Securing a sustainable future for higher education in England" published and available to view online.

Universities UK’s submission to the spending review outlines the critical role that universities will play in helping secure the UK’s future economic growth and prosperity.

Invitation to participate in the 2011 PTES and PRES.