A call for greater understanding

by Alex Bols

The second day of the conference brought out a number of interesting points. Firstly is that higher education has significantly expanded in the past 30 years – both in terms of numbers of students and institutions. But perhaps the most striking difference is not the change in size but the way in which HE has changed.

We must talk about quality

By the HEFCE communications team

The debate on public confidence in the quality of higher education started before the official ‘challenge debate’ with questions at the first plenary on quality. A number of vice-chancellors had been on the receiving end of a grilling by the innovation, universities and skills select committee hearings on quality and standards.

The price of quality

By Bahram Bekhradnia

Tim Melville-Ross, the HEFCE Chair, is such a likeable man. Rather than subject his new Chief Executive to delivering a Chief Executive’s report after only six hours in post, Tim effectively did that job. Among other things he asserted that maintaining the unit of resource for teaching is absolutely key for maintenance of quality. This is encouraging.

MPs need to be educated, too

By Bahram Bekhradnia

Much of the audience discussion on day one of the conference was dominated by the university vice-chancellors who had appeared before the select committee in the course of the latter’s investigation of universities and students.

Tough questions on science and innovation

by Donald MacLeod

Opening the batting on his first day in the job a cautious approach was only to be expected from Sir Alan Langlands. Competent, unflashy, a straight bat to the questions facing the sector. But some loose bowling from vice-chancellors tempted the ex-Principal of Dundee and former NHS chief to swipe them for six.

Quality and standards remain in public debate

by Alex Bols

The conference started by looking at the challenges facing the higher education sector. The two key issues emerging from the discussion were, perhaps unsurprisingly, the recession and the public and parliamentary debate about quality and standards.

Good teaching must be flexible

by Conor Ryan

Since the introduction of tuition fees, students have become more vocal in expecting good teaching from their university lecturers. Its importance is underlined not only by the expectations of UK students but also of those from overseas who have always had to pay higher fees and who can choose from a growing range of internationally competitive systems.

Striking the right balance in tough economic times

by Conor Ryan

Sir Alan Langlands addresses the conference

With world leaders pressing for greater regulation of the world financial system at today’s G20 conference, it was appropriate that HEFCE’s new Chief Executive, Sir Alan Langlands, was talking about getting the balance right in the university sector in his address to the conference this afternoon.