Report on Secretary of State speech to Open University, Berrill Theatre, Milton Keynes from 15.00 to 15.50 on Thursday 13th December 2007 plus accompanying questions.
The following is a sketch outline of subjects mentioned in the speech:-
The subject of co-funding from employers.
The subject of first time buyers into Higher Education.
The redistribution of £100 million for first time buyers and the shortage subjects of Science, Mathematics and Languages.
The feeling that we have to change our ways of working.
The raising of the targeted allocation towards part-time students to £20m.
The question of transitional funding and looking at submissions to Hefce carefully within the consultation exercise.
The possible changes and how these have been made – the figures are currently showing:-
£4m shifted away from ELQs next year – 2008-9
£8m shifted away from ELQs in 2009-2010
£12m shifted away from ELQs in 2010-2011
These are obviously all figures relevant to the Open University.
The subject of Leitch report and lower level skills came up.
The Secretary of State said that he had every confidence that the Open University would meet the challenge.
As far as Widening Participation went, the Universities were invited to work with Hefce and to try to find new ways of working to meet the potential targets.
Among the questions asked were:-
Why should the shifting of these targets be a price paid exclusively by part-time students? The Secretary of State said that the re-allocation of monies would in fact result in 20,000 new FTE (full time equivalent) places, the equivalent of one new University in fact.
The hostility of employers towards co-funding
The adverse effects on women returners to the workplace
The Secretary of State said that there would be protected routes in priority subjects. There would be a lot of protected opportunity.
Lisa Carson (President OUSA) asked whether there would be a change in the differentiation between full time students and part-time students. The Secretary of State said that this was something which constantly came up but he could not envisage a change at the moment or maybe for some years.
Gary Slapper (Head of Law) interestingly asked whether the Secretary of State would go down in history as the man who dealt a maiming blow to this unique institution of the Open University. The Secretary of State responded that one had to deal with the priorities and to engage with them and the ongoing discussions.
The Secretary of State said that in answer to other questions that he and the government only provided broad strategic direction and that it was up to the Open University to engage with the process and the discussion.
The meeting closed at 15.50 hours.
Donald Hedges, Dip Eng Law(Open), BA(Hons)(Solent).
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