Higher Education for the 21st Century Response to the Garrick Report

9. THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN 1998-99

The above summary in Chapter 8 of action being taken by the Government demonstrates that it has met fully the Garrick Committee’s requests for short-term action. In addition, it has set out 4 priorities for SHEFC for 1998-99 that are not covered by the Committee’s recommendations on first steps (set out in detail below). The Government will shortly be writing to SHEFCwith additional strategic guidance reflecting the Committee’s recommendations and the Government’s vision for higher education in Scotland.

Access

Its first priority is widening access to higher education to all sectors of the population. The Dearing Committee concluded that entry to higher education was still predominantly achieved by those in socio-economic groups I, II and III. The Garrick Committee acknowledged that there had been some success in widening participation in higher education to students in groups IV and V although more could be achieved. The Government’s proposals to means test tuition fees mean that around 40% of least well-off Scottish students will have all their tuition fees paid by the Government. It does not, therefore, believe this should deter students from less well-off backgrounds from entering higher education.

The Government has also asked SHEFC to consider the increased cost to higher education institutions of pursuing wider access routes and to consider acting as a contributor to fund the wider access schemes that exist in Scotland. SHEFC has also been asked to monitor participation by different areas and groups (including the disabled) in Scotland and to contribute towards a national strategy for widening access.

Institutional Stability

The Government has recognised that the change in student support arrangements may have caused some students to bring forward entry to higher education into 1997 and that uncertainty may delay applications for 1998-99. It has therefore granted SHEFC flexibility in its funding if institutions experience under recruitment against the Council’s plans. Similar consideration will be given to the position of FE colleges. It has also, more specifically, asked SHEFC to consider action, where necessary, to preserve the viability of small specialist institutions while having regard for value for money.

Research

The Government has taken forward the Garrick Committee’s longer term recommendations on research. It has asked SHEFC to target some of its research development funding towards research groups in those institutions that have had only limited opportunities to create centres of research strength and thereby gain mainstream funding through the Research Assessment Exercise. The Government has also asked the Council to encourage collaboration among institutions by, for example, promoting access by researchers to facilities outside their own institution. The Council has been asked to address, with the higher education sector, any barriers that prevent such co-operation.