CUBO College and University Business Officers’ Post

The UK has one of the highest-performing higher education sectors in the world.    Despite the impacts of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, UK higher education has proven itself to be a powerful and resilient global brand.    Reflecting on my experience at The PIE Live Europe last month, it was heartening to see the passion and drive of so many sector colleagues as they reflected on the current landscape and the year ahead.   As Official Insights Partner, we had the opportunity to share our learnings and data on diversification, resilient recruitment strategies, reputation and more.   The current reality is that the UK sector is facing financial uncertainty and the prospect of potential political and policy changes. But there are paths to success. In my keynote speech and in the QS Insights session, we shared recommendations on how universities can thrive and not just survive this year.   Read my speech here: https://lnkd.in/eVQPpsRP    If you missed our Insights session at The PIE Live, we are hosting a webinar on 16 April with Kym Ngyuen and Matteo Quacquarelli through a data-led approach to student recruitment resilience. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eACspxCb

"𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞." In today’s The Irish Times, University College Dublin President Professor Orla Feely and Danny McCoy, CEO, Ibec, highlight the critical issue of continuing underinvestment in Irish higher education. The piece discusses the particular challenges this poses to the national supply of skills and talent, and Ireland’s attractiveness to business investment.   Read more about how this underinvestment impacts our future: https://lnkd.in/gEd2-Ws4  

We're delighted to share our 2024 Report covering our work during 2023-2024! Alongside a summary of activities by our Centre co-directors (Jen Ross, Ben Williamson, Andrew Manches, Judy Robertson) offering an overview of the work undertaken in the academic year 2023/2024 across our research strands, the report features our six principles for socially responsible Digital Education. After over a year of collaborative work, we are pleased to be sharing them for the first time in this report: PRINCIPLE 1. We work toward a digital education future that has a transformative positive impact on access, participation and social mobility. PRINCIPLE 2. We work toward a digital education future that is interdisciplinary, speculative and critical, imagining new possibilities and understanding the value of productive disarray. PRINCIPLE 3. We work toward a digital education future that values and protects the place of teaching. PRINCIPLE 4. We work toward a digital education future that is collaborative and critically hopeful. PRINCIPLE 5. We work toward a digital education future that is care-ful and full of care. PRINCIPLE 6. We create a space for questioning the assumptions driving education technology development and co-creating alternatives. Download the Report at the link in the comments. The Report was designed by Lizzie Abernethy at Andthen. University of Edinburgh Moray House School of Education and Sport Edinburgh Futures Institute

New Publication Alert! 🚀 We are excited to share our latest article, "Three Decades of Transformation: The Evolving Landscape of UK Private Higher Education," published in the International Journal of Private Higher Education (IJPHE). Over the past three decades, the landscape of private higher education in the UK has undergone significant transformations aimed at expanding access, increasing student choices, and enhancing quality. Evolving government policies and reforms have shaped this evolution. 📚 Article Highlights: Government Policies and Reforms: Investigates the influence of governmental policies since the 1990s and the key initiatives introduced to promote private higher education. Rapid Expansion and Quality Assurance: Explores the rapid expansion of PrHEIs in the second decade, addressing the emergence of bogus colleges and the measures taken to ensure quality assurance and regulatory oversight. Crackdown on Non-compliant Institutions: Discusses the government's crackdown in the 2010s on non-compliant institutions, leading to the suspension or revocation of Tier 4 licenses. Shift in Business Models: Analyses the shift towards franchising to widen participation and access for home non-traditional and mature students, moving away from a predominant focus on international students. Rise of Private HEIs with Awarding Powers: Highlights the sector's growth from the singular existence of the University of Buckingham to over ten reputable private HEIs with awarding powers, indicating a more diverse and competitive higher education environment. Emerging Trends and Future Developments: Provides insights into the potential future developments within the UK's private higher education landscape, highlighting its implications for the broader higher education ecosystem. This research offers valuable insights into the complexities and prospects of private higher education in the UK, contributing to a nuanced understanding of its past, present, and future. 🔍 Keywords: UK Government, UK Higher Education (HE), Private Higher Education Institutions (PrHEIs), International Students, Growth and Transformation, Three Decades We are eager to connect and discuss these findings with fellow academics, policymakers, and industry professionals. Let us collaborate and inspire each other to drive further innovations in private higher education! #HigherEducation #UKEducation #PrivateHEIs #AcademicResearch #EducationPolicy #StudentAccess #EducationalQuality #FranchisingInEducation #InnovativeEducation Feel free to reach out for a discussion or any further information. Together, we can continue to foster growth and excellence in higher education!

We’ve partnered with UK Study Options for our next webinar. UK Study Options are the leading experts on UK university fee status for British families living abroad. In this webinar, we will be joined by their Head of Global Engagement, Sam Goodwin, who will help translate jargon and dispel myths about fee status. Our next free  webinar 𝗨𝗞 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗔 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 will reveal: 👉 How to minimise the risk of paying foreign fees 👉 Strategies for effective financial planning to manage university expenses 👉 Everything you need to know about the UK’s university fee structure and how fee status is determined  👉 Guidance that could save tens of thousands of pounds on tuition fees, if not more! 📅 When: Tuesday 15th October  🕛 Time:  8am (UK time), 3pm (AWST) and 6pm (AEST) 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱? 👉 British expat parents of secondary school students currently living in Australia 👉 British parents intending to relocate their family to Australia To register and find out more, click the link below. The webinar will last 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session during which you can have your burning questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there! https://lnkd.in/dHuna5UC 

🚀 New Publication Alert! 🚀 We are excited to share our latest article, "Three Decades of Transformation: The Evolving Landscape of UK Private Higher Education," published in the International Journal of Private Higher Education (IJPHE). Over the past three decades, the landscape of private higher education in the UK has undergone significant transformations aimed at expanding access, increasing student choices, and enhancing quality. Evolving government policies and reforms have shaped this evolution. 📚 Article Highlights: Government Policies and Reforms: Investigates the influence of governmental policies since the 1990s and the key initiatives introduced to promote private higher education. Rapid Expansion and Quality Assurance: Explores the rapid expansion of PrHEIs in the second decade, addressing the emergence of bogus colleges and the measures taken to ensure quality assurance and regulatory oversight. Crackdown on Non-compliant Institutions: Discusses the government's crackdown in the 2010s on non-compliant institutions, leading to the suspension or revocation of Tier 4 licenses. Shift in Business Models: Analyses the shift towards franchising to widen participation and access for home non-traditional and mature students, moving away from a predominant focus on international students. Rise of Private HEIs with Awarding Powers: Highlights the sector's growth from the singular existence of the University of Buckingham to over ten reputable private HEIs with awarding powers, indicating a more diverse and competitive higher education environment. Emerging Trends and Future Developments: Provides insights into the potential future developments within the UK's private higher education landscape, highlighting its implications for the broader higher education ecosystem. This research offers valuable insights into the complexities and prospects of private higher education in the UK, contributing to a nuanced understanding of its past, present, and future. 🔍 Keywords: UK Government, UK Higher Education (HE), Private Higher Education Institutions (PrHEIs), International Students, Growth and Transformation, Three Decades We are eager to connect and discuss these findings with fellow academics, policymakers, and industry professionals. Let us collaborate and inspire each other to drive further innovations in private higher education! #HigherEducation #UKEducation #PrivateHEIs #AcademicResearch #EducationPolicy #StudentAccess #EducationalQuality #FranchisingInEducation #InnovativeEducation Feel free to reach out for a discussion or any further information. Together, we can continue to foster growth and excellence in higher education!

The multifaceted challenges confronting higher education today necessitate a governing board that’s as diverse and dynamic as the student populations and communities it serves. The experiences and clarifying questions generated from those experiences, however, help to inform others and will continue through this interactive session. https://bit.ly/4bkONCn Join us on May 7 for this AGB exclusive webinar, where the authors of AGB’s latest report, “Diversifying the Governing Board” will discuss their findings and insights. Building on our 2021 survey “Practices, Policies, and Composition of Governing Boards of Colleges, Universities, and Institutionally Related Foundations,” this session explores the advancements and strategies in diversifying the composition of governing boards. Related resources: Report: Diversifying the Governing Board https://bit.ly/44mBA9E Trusteeship article: Increasing Diversity on the Boards of Colleges and Universities https://lnkd.in/d-zu5qGa Webinar on Demand: Diversifying the Board: Best Practices in Board Recruitment and Diversification https://bit.ly/3WfujXk

We’ve partnered with UK Study Options for our next webinar. UK Study Options are the leading experts on UK university fee status for British families living abroad. In this webinar, we will be joined by their Head of Global Engagement, Sam Goodwin, who will help translate jargon and dispel myths about fee status. Our next free  webinar 𝗨𝗞 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗔 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 will reveal: 👉 How to minimise the risk of paying foreign fees 👉 Strategies for effective financial planning to manage university expenses 👉 Everything you need to know about the UK’s university fee structure and how fee status is determined  👉 Guidance that could save tens of thousands of pounds on tuition fees, if not more! 📅 When: Tuesday 15th October  🕛 Time:  8am (UK time), 3pm (AWST) and 6pm (AEST) 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱? 👉 British expat parents of secondary school students currently living in Australia 👉 British parents intending to relocate their family to Australia To register and find out more, click the link below. The webinar will last 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session during which you can have your burning questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there! https://lnkd.in/gnvm2QXZ 

We’ve partnered with UK Study Options for our next webinar. UK Study Options are the leading experts on UK university fee status for British families living abroad. In this webinar, we will be joined by their Head of Global Engagement, Sam Goodwin, who will help translate jargon and dispel myths about fee status. Our next free  webinar 𝗨𝗞 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗔 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 will reveal: 👉 How to minimise the risk of paying foreign fees 👉 Strategies for effective financial planning to manage university expenses 👉 Everything you need to know about the UK’s university fee structure and how fee status is determined  👉 Guidance that could save tens of thousands of pounds on tuition fees, if not more! 📅 When: Tuesday 15th October  🕛 Time:  8am (UK time), 3pm (AWST) and 6pm (AEST) 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱? 👉 British expat parents of secondary school students currently living in Australia 👉 British parents intending to relocate their family to Australia To register and find out more, click the link below. The webinar will last 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session during which you can have your burning questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there! https://lnkd.in/e2qeudws

I've just caught up on a recording of the Higher Education Policy Institute webinar on the Australian Accord and highly recommend it for a real optimism boost. You can find it below and here https://bit.ly/3RkxgT6 With Professor Mary O'Kane who chaired the Accord, Libby Hackett, Andy Westwood and incoming VC of the University of Manchester Duncan Ivison. Chaired by Nicholas Hillman. Some key takeaways: 1. The language of an 'Accord' (ie an agreement) was very important for setting the tone of this work in contrast to more technical 'reviews' we've been used to in the UK 2. Identified a need for 80% participation in some kind of higher ed (that is post 18 education, FE and/or HE) - ie smash through the 50%! 3. 'Equity for growth' - the Accord found that simply (although of course it's not simple) equalising participation rates for different equity groups (low SES, first nations, other minoritised groups etc) would fill the skills gaps and meet the 80pc target 4. Collaboration between HE and TAFE (or FE in UK terms) is essential - again not easy (as David Hughes pointed out). Andy Westwood called out the need to rebuild trust between HE and FE and government. 5. Need to get our heads around mission homogenisation vs mission diversification when looking for solutions for teaching and, crucially, research (as Chris Husbands and others pointed out) 6. Mary O'Kane suggested the answer to low or sluggish productivity might be more in skills than in innovation - discuss! 6. Language is important! Libby Hackett talked about 'stewarding' the system; Duncan Ivison about 'compacts' between institutions and between them and government; and framing this work as an 'Accord' has been critical in getting buy-in. 7. And loads more interesting points. Apparently, the whole report is about 80 pages but I guarantee that if you watch this webinar, you will, like me, want to put it on your reading list. Andy Westwood said he loved every page of it. (Note: if watching the recording, 1.5x speed works fine for all speakers apart from one questioner whose blushes I shall spare 🙂 )