The higher education sector continues to face a raft of complex challenges in order to survive:

Uncertainty over funding, the lack of differentiation in terms of fees, caps on the number of non-EU students, a lack of coherence in policy across the UK and difficulties in predicting future student numbers are driving a more competitive environment.

HE Institutions (HEIs) need to maintain and increase their income as well as look for the best value for money in running their operations; but students themselves are asking similar questions, including whether or not best value for them involves obtaining their qualification from a UK university.

For English universities in particular, the areas they must look at include

• Focusing research on the big issues that attract funding;
• Developing revenue from their expertise by way of consultancy and knowledge transfer activities or contract research;
• Increasing employability of their graduates;
• Continuing to attract students, but reviewing which courses and qualifications are attractive, yet financially viable
• Reducing corporate services costs;
• Reducing utility and waste disposal bills;

Ironically, while the Universities are looking to reduce costs and increase research activity (a result of which means  reducing “face-time” with students) the students themselves are facing massive increases in fees and demanding more face-time with tutors.  How Universities resolve this paradox without increasing their cost base is crucial to meeting research targets and student satisfaction scores.

Expect to see many changes in English universities, including some opting out of public funding.

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