What are the challenges facing the future of the higher education sector?
Firstly, of course, there is sector funding. We have now had the Government’s long-awaited response to the Augar recommendations, and we have, at least in part, a better understanding of the direction of policy.
In light of what has been projected to be a £560 billion liability for the proportion of student loans which remain unrepaid by the middle of this century, the Government is looking to develop a suite of proposals for reform which aim to balance what are not mutually inclusive goals: namely, continuing participation, a more balanced contribution to the cost of higher education between students and the taxpayer, and a focus on the quality and employability outcomes of courses offered by universities.
