HEFCW - We support the HE sector in Wales in a number of priority areas set by the Welsh Government

1. HE Funding and Regulatory Issues in
Wales – Perspective from HEFCW
Bethan Owen
Director of Institutional Engagement - HEFCW
Cyfarwyddwr Ymgysylltu Sefydliadol
AUA South Wales and South West Conference
May 2015

2. About HEFCW
We support the HE sector in Wales in a number of
priority areas set by the Welsh Government,
including:
Promoting learning and teaching
development, particularly the quality of the
learning experience
Investing in a strong research base and
developing research excellence
Encouraging activities in higher education that
support business and the community
Widening access to higher education

3. About HEFCW
Strengthening HE sector: reconfiguration and
collaboration, financial sustainability, effective
leadership and governance, European and
international developments, estates
Accrediting and funding initial teacher
training course providers
Funding and Regulating
Promoting

4. About HEFCW
Informing, developing and implementing
government policy

5. HEFCW Funding for Higher
Education
Since 2012/13 full-time undergraduate
students from Wales pay no more than
previous fee level – anywhere in UK
Balance of fee cost offset by tuition fee grant
Tuition fee grant non-repayable, follows
student
Tuition fee grant paid by Welsh Government
and comes from higher education budget

6. HEFCW Funding in 2014/15

7. Impact of Fee Grant on HEFCW
Funding
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
Millions
Fee grant payments to other UK
HEIs
Fee grant payments to Welsh HEIs
Research
Teaching - FT UG & PGCE
(including premia and per capita)
Teaching - PGT (including premia
and per capita)
Teaching - PT (including premia and
per capita)
Strategy and Initiative Allocations
£

8. 2015/16 Funding
Change in tuition fee grant payment
arrangements announced February 2015
Tuition fee grant cost transferred from HEFCW
to Welsh Government student support budget
HEFCW Gross budget reduced by up to
£237m as a result (66%)
Final 2015-16 remit letter from Welsh
Government received 19 March 2015
Funding allocations announced by end of May
2015

9. Funding Priorities and Principles
Strategic priorities
Remit letter

10. Review of HE Funding and Student
Finance arrangements in Wales
Commissioned by Minister November 2013
Sir Ian Diamond - Chair of Review Panel
Evidence submissions by end of February
2015
Factual Summary expected Autumn 2015
Final report Autumn 2016

11. Review of HE Funding and Student
Finance arrangements in Wales
Welsh Government priorities for the review
Widening access
Supporting skills needs of Wales
Strengthening part time and postgraduate
provision
Long term financial sustainability

12. Regulation
Government proposal to introduce Bill 2013
Replace powers attached to funding
Technical Consultation summer 2013
Higher Education (Wales) Act gained Royal
Assent 12 March 2015
Transition to New Act arrangements: Sept
2015 to Aug 2017
1992 Act still in place with some changes
Full implementation of new Act from 2017/18

13. Current Regulatory Arrangements
Financial and governance assurance
arrangements similar to HEFCE
Financial Memorandum in process of update
Quality assurance via QAA
Fee Plans: HEFCW has responsibility held by
OFFA in England
Apply to institutions funded by HEFCW
No alternative providers

14. New Regulatory System
Automatic designation Case-by-case designation
(subject to consultation)
All relevant courses automatically
designated
Relevant courses subject to case-
by-case designation
Compliance with:
• fee limits
• approved plan
• quality assessment
• financial assurance
Applications- for each individual
course required
If approved:
Applications to HEFCW for
approval of fee and access plans
required
If approved:
Compliance with:
• Specific designation criteria
concerning quality of provision
and financial assurance
Fee support package
Tuition fee support up to £9,000
(loan and grant)
Fee support package
Tuition fee support up to £6,000
(loan only)
Institution or other provider in Wales with
charitable status delivering HE courses

15. HE Wales Act Regulatory
Framework
Framework based on Fee and Access Plan
Institution providing HE and is a charity can
apply to HEFCW for Fee and Access Plan
approval
HEFCW required to monitor compliance with
and effectiveness of plan
HEFCW required to assess quality, and take
steps where quality is or likely to become
inadequate

16. HE Wales Act Regulatory
Framework cont’d
HEFCW required to prepare Financial
Management Code to apply to regulated
institutions
Circumstances when HEFCW may refuse to
approve plan or withdraw prior approval
Can provide warning notices to regulated
institutions
Reports to Welsh Ministers, and provision of
information and advice by HEFCW

17. Regulated Institutions
Regulated framework applies to providers of
HE in Wales which seek automatic designation
Likely to include all current funded universities,
but maybe further education colleges and
some alternative providers
Other routes are ‘case by case’ designation (ie
by course)
Arrangements operated by Welsh Government
but currently consulting on new arrangement

18. Implementation Arrangements
Welsh Government consulting on first five sets
of regulations
Four areas for HEFCW implementation:
Fee planning
Quality
Financial Management Code
Intervention Statement

19. Looking ahead
Regulatory framework not intended to be draconian
Replacing powers currently attached to funding
HEFCW to work in partnership with the sector
Potentially new HE providers
Two year period of transition and consultation
Impact of UK and Welsh Government elections
Continuing period of change
Shared responsibility to provide confidence in HE
Well governed provision, providing value for money
and return on investment of public and student
Funding

20. Thank you for listening / Diolch am wrando
Bethan Owen
Director of Institutional Engagement
Cyfarwyddwr Ymgysylltu Sefydliadol
bethan.owen@hefcw.ac.uk
029 2068 2215