Diversity and differentiation of task and mission underpin the excellence of the UK HE system, and it’s this diversity which will be needed to see it thrive into the future.
That is the message Professor Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, gave at a national conference yesterday (Thursday 12 November).
She told a meeting of the AUA (Association of University Administrators) that the sustainability challenges faced by the sector can only be met by each institution developing its own plan to tackle them.
“No two institutions face the same challenges,” said Professor Breakwell. “The idea that one plan could fit the whole sector is just not plausible.
“We are all facing national and global intellectual, economic and socio-cultural changes and HE must respond to them.
“We are also facing Government policy changes. The new HE framework document sets out a bold vision for the sector with greater focus on the ‘customer experience’ of students and ties with business.
“There is a call for more research concentration, especially in high cost scientific disciplines, and a commitment to widening access to higher education for all sections of our community. On top of this, the independent review of HE funding has just begun.
“All of these changes will drive diversity in the sector with individual institutions needing to display both focus and flexibility.
“I see diversity as a positive thing but it could mean that the character and identity of some of our institutions could radically change over the next decade.
“We will need to stimulate diversification of income generation and to challenge our existing business models. It will be a time for decisive and flexible leadership.
“Bath is one of the leading research universities in the UK and this will remain our focus. Yet Bath has always had strong links to business and industry particularly through its emphasis on STEM subjects.
“We offer the majority of our undergraduates a four year degree structure with the third of these years spent on placement in business, industry or the public sector.
“This is tied to the very high percentage (typically 90%) of our students securing a graduate level job after finishing their studies.
“Now we are developing a stronger framework for programmes of continuing professional development. This is alongside a new graduate school structure for postgraduate education.
“All institutions will need to change to deal with the challenges that we now face. Evolving the identities of our universities is the task at hand. This will mean sharper diversification across the sector.”