There is no suggestion of a separation between research and teaching, with the strategy, “Higher Ambitions”, also calling on universities to provide high-level skills and to attract the best students and researchers. However, one of the key measures is a pledge to concentrate research funding where needed to secure critical mass and impact and to encourage collaboration between universities on world-class research, especially in high-cost science.
Other measures set out in the framework include:
More competition between universities to give greater priority to programmes that meet the need for high-level skills
Business to be more engaged in the funding and design of programmes, sponsorship of students, and work placements
Creating more part-time, work-based and foundation degrees to make it easier for adults to go to university, with routes from apprenticeships through to Foundation Degrees and other vocational programmes
Encouraging universities to consider contextual data in admissions (as opposed to only admitting on the basis of exam results), as one way of ensuring that higher education is available to all young people who have the ability to benefit
Universities are to set out clearly what students can expect in terms of the nature and quality of courses offered
The architect of the strategy, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, said the government wants universities to make an even bigger contribution to economic recovery and future growth. “We have therefore decided to give greater priority to programmes that meet the need for high level skills, especially in key areas such as science, technology, engineering and maths. There will be a greater element of competition between universities for new contestable funding as an incentive to fulfil this priority.”
“In the decade ahead we will expect more from our universities than ever before. They will need to use their resources more effectively, reach out to a wider range of potential students and devise new sources of income, at the same time as they maintain teaching and research excellence.”
“Higher Ambitions” can be found online at http://www.bis.gov.uk/
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