- Leadership Foundation launches guide to efficiency for governorsPosted 25 August 2017Getting to Grips with Efficiency explores the concept of efficiency and the efficiency agenda within the higher education sector. As part of the Leadership Foundation's guide for governors series, it seeks to provide governors with the information to help guide their institutions to greater efficiency and to plan for new reporting requirements that may push them to go even further (log-in required to download publication).
- HEPI Where next for widening participation and fair access?Posted 21 August 2017The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and the social mobility charity Brightside are jointly publishing a collection of essays by senior higher education figures entitled Where next for widening participation and fair access? New insights from leading thinkers.
- Higher Education Estates Statistics Report 2016Posted 2 December 2016UK Universities’ response to the efficiency agenda and their own income generating projects have helped them to increase their income to a record £30bn. In its annual estates management report, AUDE reveals that despite a challenging funding environment and a decrease in home students, the sector grew by £2bn in one year.
- Demonstrating HE Efficiency and EffectivenessPosted 8 November 2016This report focuses on how universities continue to deliver value for money in a climate where income is reducing in real terms and competition is increasing, while finding recurrent savings which will enable them to make necessary investments. It includes examples from universities across the UK where universities are saving money through efficient estate management.
- Analytics in higher educationPosted 8 November 2016Universities already collect vast amounts of data about their student populations, but often this is underutilised. This Universities UK report, written in partnership with Civitas Learning and Jisc, sets out the case for better use of analytics in higher education through effective implementation of appropriate technology and techniques.
- The risks and challenges around large investment, transformation and change programmes in higher educationPosted 26 October 2016This document highlights the key issues and risks institutions should consider in managing institutional change and investment programmes and the sorts of questions non-executives should be asking. It is part of a series of documents around the theme of managing risk in higher education, each one focusing on different issues [registration required].
- Integrated Reporting in HEPosted 17 August 2016The Integrated Reporting framework offers an opportunity for universities to develop their annual reports into something more accessible, with a potential audience beyond regulators or governors. This study gives a snapshot of reporting at seven universities, showing that while some are starting to report in far more integrated ways, even the best examples have room for improvement.
- Implementation of Cost-Sharing Exemption in UniversitiesPosted 28 July 2016N8 universities have been working towards utilisation of the VAT Cost-Sharing Exemption (CSE) for sharing of equipment through the development of an approved Cost Sharing Group (CSG) model. By using an existing shared asset - N8 high performance computing - as a model facility for setting up a CSG, the N8 hoped to demonstrate its value and viability.
- Letter from BIS to HEFCE calls for annual efficiency reportsPosted 4 March 2016HEFCE has been urged to work with Universities UK and the sector to deliver the recommendations of Professor Sir Ian Diamond’s efficiency reviews, in the latest letter from the business secretary. The letter also calls for the production of annual reports monitoring progress on efficiency, both for the sector as a whole and from individual institutions.
- Portsmouth Cost Sharing Group InvestigationPosted 24 February 2016In April 2014 HEFCE gave an award to the University of Portsmouth to explore the feasibility of setting up a cost sharing group to deliver IT services to education providers across Portsmouth, in collaboration with Portsmouth City Council. This report, published in February 2016, sets out options for sharing resources with potential participants.
- From Bricks to Clicks – the potential of data and analytics in higher educationPosted 28 January 2016Big data and analytics are being used by businesses to have more understanding of their customers and products in order to spot opportunities and to become more efficient and more innovative. This report recommends that Universities UK, Jisc and HESA work together to develop a strategy for excellence and innovation in data management and analytics.
- Developing the next generation – Brunel UniversityPosted 17 December 2015A guidance and good practice resource for the leadership development of early career researchers and academics, based on a research project funded by the Leadership Foundation's Innovation and Transformation Fund.
- Development of an Academic Intern SchemePosted 7 December 2015This project will develop a professional development scheme for postgraduates interested in an academic career. This intern scheme is designed to offer an innovative and inclusive way to expose postgraduate taught and research students to wider academic skills, practices and processes, whilst providing an opportunity to see the workings of a higher education institution.
- Engagement driven approach to process improvement – University of HertfordshirePosted 3 December 2015This report describes a project to develop an approach to process improvement within Higher Education that focuses on people, acknowledges their different perspectives and uses these perspectives to enhance capability.
- Putting Students at the Heart of Our Processes – University of LeicesterPosted 3 December 2015This report is a guide to the University of Leicester's exploration into whether connecting senior leaders more closely to the student experience created an impetus for organisational improvement. It contains information on “what works” in engaging senior leaders and seeks to provide insights for institutions looking to develop similar approaches.
- I-MAP project, November 2012Posted 8 October 2015The i-MAP project set out to review the new programme development and launch processes within universities and to determine if there was any scope for improved efficiency. It recommends early financial and market scrutiny during the development of programmes to increase the proportion that achieve strong and sustained market appeal.
- i-MAP study, September 2015Posted 8 October 2015The follow up to the original i-MAP project finds that a significant number of higher education institutions that adopted i-MAP's market-led approach to academic programme development saw increased levels of efficiency in their processes.
- Scottish efficiency strategy ‘on course’ says taskforce chairPosted 17 August 2015The second three-year efficiency strategy for higher education in Scotland is on course and already delivering results, Professor Sir Ian Diamond says in a document marking the end of the strategy’s first year.
- Collaboration and shared services in UK higher education: report launchPosted 22 April 2015Today sees the launch of a report on collaboration and shared services in higher education, which was commissioned by Efficiency Exchange. The report’s co-author Andrew Rothwell explains that with shared services "the best is yet to come”.
- Efficiency Effectiveness and Value for Money report 2015Posted 30 March 2015The Efficiency, Effectiveness and Value for Money report develops a new agenda for efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in higher education. It presents evidence, analysis and recommendations arising from a review of the sector led by Professor Sir Ian Diamond and coordinated by Universities UK in partnership with a wide range of sector organisations.
- The P3 Project – People, Performance and Process, Bangor UniversityPosted 24 March 2015A project to bring the questions of people and performance together with lean methodologies has been developed by the Aber-Bangor Strategic Alliance with funding from the Innovation and Transformation Fund.
- N8 highlights the impact of asset sharing across UK universitiesPosted 27 February 2015The report, which reveals asset sharing's role in delivering innovation, increased productivity, and maximum value for public investment, helped to shape Thursday's Efficiency, Effectiveness and Value for Money report by Universities UK.
- Scotland’s efficiency programme hits its targets earlyPosted 2 October 2014Scotland's higher education efficiency programme has fulfilled almost all of its targets, just two years into a three-year plan.
- Managing university performance: is there a better way?Posted 24 February 2014Treating professionals as stewards of their disciplines and setting clear goals can both contribute to effective performance.
- Managing research contracts: Report for Brunswick Group October 2013Posted 13 November 2013This report examines research contracts administration and includes benchmarking of resourcing levels and identifies best practice. Produced by Research Consulting for the Brunswick group of research intensive universities, October 2013.
- Working for a smarter, stronger sector: efficiency and effectiveness in higher education progress report November 2013Posted 12 November 2013Progress report on efficiency and effectiveness in higher education - Universities UK November 2013
- Making the best better – efficiency and effectiveness in higher education – report for BISPosted 15 May 2013Making the best better – efficiency and effectiveness in higher education – report for BIS