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Good morning. Parliament returns today after its short break for party conference season although the SNP conference is going ahead in Aberdeen from Thursday. We will probably be treated to the government's HE Green Paper this week. The BIS consultation on freezing of graduate repayment rates finishes. Sajid Javid, Jo Johnson and BIS boss Gareth Davies (26 on the HE Power List in case you're wondering) go before House of Commons Select Committees. The pro-EU IN campaign formerly launches today with HE front and centre. It's the first UCAS deadline for the new cycle on Thursday (it seems to get earlier every year). What, that's not enough for you?
It's not easy being green
On Thursday this week, the government is expected to set out its thinking and plans for higher education policy in a green paper (with white edges) or a white paper (with green edges) depending on who you speak to. Actually 'white' and 'green' have no formal status in Whitehall and it's likely there will be a mixture of big and small measures with different implications, requiring different timescales to consult on and implement. The TEF will probably need the quickest turnaround and given the intense period of development that's been going on, is likely to be the most thought-through aspect of the plans. The Sunday Times had a story this weekend which backs up much of what we know already, but categorises the theoretical failure of a university to be able to raise fees along with inflation (should they not pass their TEF) as a "fine". In any case, the TEF-fees link has been starting to strain under the pressure of policy development, intense lobbying and the tight timescales needed to make it all work. Not to mention the forecast for ultra-low inflation for the time being, which could leave any rise looking like a rather meagre reward. Other options being considered include simply delaying the link between TEF and fees for a year to allow the first version of TEF to bed in without the financial complications, or perhaps linking a fee rise to something else entirely - for example the existing quality assessment system.
Elsewhere in the document we are likely to see important changes to regulation and the shape of the HE landscape. A 'bonfire' of the HE quangos is expected in the spending review next month, and the green paper may well have clues to how this is going to shape up for universities. Talking of quangos, it is now HEFCE which is looking increasingly vulnerable - being squeezed between the plans for cutting/simplifying everything underneath BIS and the government's plans for reshaping the regulatory and funding landscape. Many senior figures are now expecting a radical change that could see the council's remaining teaching funding moved 'in house' to BIS, REF and QR moved to a new mega research council and remaining regulatory functions moved to a brand new body - possibly built on top of what remains of HEFCE after its funding and research role is taken away. There's a long journey before we get there though as these points will be negotiated for months, but as we get closer to the green paper and spending review, the contours of the debate are becoming more apparent and it is clear that HEFCE is very much at risk. We think the green paper will land on Thursday, although any number of factors could delay it. Whenever it comes, it will likely shape the HE debate for the rest of this parliament. Of course we'll be covering it in depth on the site, so stay tuned.
IN campaign kicks off
This morning the official 'IN' campaign to keep the UK a member of the EU is launched and the sector has ensured that universities are playing a big role. It's a rare issue on which virtually all vice chancellors agree, allowing UUK to give the campaign its full-blooded support. Joining former Prime Ministers and other senior figures on the campaign board is Janet Beer, vice chancellor of the University of Liverpool. NUS President Megan Dunn is also on the team. To mark the launch of the campaign, on the site this morning, Alistair Jarvis asks What has Europe ever done for us?
Graduate repayment freeze
Following the Chancellor's announcement in the Budget that the government intend to freeze the graduate repayment threshold at £21,000 for five years, the BIS consultation on the issue is drawing to a close. The fact that the government could retrospectively change the way graduates repay their debt was always one of concerns about the current system. Fears are now being realised - and if the plans are enacted, several cohorts of students will find themselves much worse off after graduation than they had calculated on before starting their courses. The Sutton Trust reckon that the move will result in all graduates paying more back, but even more troublingly, they claim the most disadvantaged graduates will be hit hardest by the move. You can find out more about the plans and respond to the consultation here, which closes on Wednesday night.
SNP Conference
SNP's Annual Conference kicks off this week in Aberdeen where there are going to be more representatives from the HE sector than at any previous SNP gathering. Being the third largest party in Westminster means that NGOs, charities, businesses etc. will all be keen to influence SNP policy on a scale they've never bothered with before. Shortly after the election, organisations across different sectors quickly diverted resources away from the Lib Dem conference and towards the SNP - and higher education is no different. Added to this, the Scottish Government is currently progressing an HE governance bill which would see radical changes to the way Scottish universities are run. The proposals have been controversial and a campaign against the bill is gathering pace and so sector lobbyists will ensure the issue is kept firmly on the agenda in Aberdeen this week.
You might have missed on Wonkhe
We were in Manchester for the Conservative Party Conference last week. Martin McQuillan wrote a sketch rounding up the atmosphere and debates Welcome to the Northern Powerhouse of Cards. David Gilmore of the Equality Challenge Unit writes about how ECU is changing to respond to a new funding reality. Andy Youell writes on the start of a revolution in the way data is collected in HE. The latest True Crime on Campus from Registrarism has the latest startling crime report from the University of Nottingham: Who knew Scrabble could be such a dangerous game?
Let me know what I missed or what else you'd like to see in the Monday morning briefing. Have a great week.
Mark
The rest of the week's agenda
Monday October 12th
PARLIAMENTARY: Conference Recess House Returns
Tuesday October 13th
EVENT: UUK digital innovation conference supported by Wonkhe, London
EVENT: LFHE: Leading Change in Higher Education conference, Cambridge
EVENT: University Alliance Engaging employers in future of STEM reception, London
PARLIAMENTARY: House of Commons Science & Technology Committee session Jo Johnson and Gareth Davies (BIS Director General)
PARLIAMENTARY: House of Commons BIS Committee inquiry on Government Productivity Plan
Wednesday October 14th
DEADLINE: BIS Consultation on freezing the student loan repayment threshold
EVENT: Westminster Forum International students conference, London
EVENT: ARMA Supporting Research Proposals workshop, Manchester
EVENT: HE & FE trade show, London
EVENT: UCEA The fundamentals of employment law workshop, London
PARLIAMENTARY: House of Commons BIS Committee - Sajid Javid giving evidence
EVENT: British Universities Directors of Finance Group TRAC Conference, London
Thursday October 15th
Green Paper Publication (probable)
EVENT: Westminster Forum Student Experience conference, London
EVENT: AUA 2015 Development Conference, York
EVENT: AUA 18th Annual Lecture, York
EVENT: Hobsons European Association for International Education conference, London
EVENT: HEFCE HEIFES15 beginners/refresher seminar, Manchester
EVENT: OIAHE 10-Year Anniversary Seminar, London
REPORT: ONS Student support applications for HE
REPORT: HEPI Students and the 2015 general election: Did they make a difference
DEADLINE: UCAS first deadline for 2016 cycle
EVENT: SNP Annual Conference, Aberdeen (until Saturday)
Friday October 16th
DEADLINE: HEA call for funding: Learning and teaching in cyber security
EVENT: Mixed Economy Group Consumer rights in HE admissions, London
At SNP Conference in Aberdeen:
Fringe: NUS/Million Plus: How will the SNP stand up for HE in Westminster and Holyrood?Fringe: Universities Scotland: access to higher education
Fringe: Royal Society et al: Research and innovation: solving the productivity puzzle
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