HEFCE best practice (HEinFE)

The 2009 completely revised version of this new 200 page document was given out at the QAA/HEA conference on Jan 30th. It features case studies of Colleges, partnerships and consortia exhibiting best practice covering all aspects of HE in FE delivery. Apparently it's on the HEFCE website to download? We were given a Word document to take away. I've skimmed through it very quickly to pick out West Midlands specifice exemplars (see below).

Before We get to that information, it was revealed that ALL FE Colleges must have a HE strategy in place by next year (submit by autumn). A guide is out Feb 2009 to work with. Colleges with over 100 FTEs must submit by end of June 09. A web based form will be out ( HEFCE Anne Thompsom – Sheffield Uni) by April to help with writing strategies.

Ann Thompson made call to FE Colleges to submit exemplars of HE strategy to help put the guide together.

By June 2009 all colleges must submit a HE strategic assessment

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West Midlands specific exemplars if HEinFE best practice:

3.3 Categorising HE students: Distinction between full-time and part-time programmes

• Newcastle-under-Lyme College

Course management – roles and responsibilities

With the development of foundation degrees and increased employer-related activities, the college’s School of Art has created a management role to develop and implement a strategy to ensure clarity about what ‘employer engagement’ means at different programme levels across diverse HE/FE provision


4.2 Common features of successful partnerships

• Staffordshire University Regional Federation (SURF)

SURF is a HEFCE-recognised funding consortium established in 2000, primarily to increase higher education provision through FECs so that students can study where they live and/or work. SURF comprises all nine FECs in Staffordshire and two Shropshire colleges, with Staffordshire University as the lead institution.

Essentially, SURF is a mini ‘funding council’. Student numbers can be moved between colleges, reflecting changes in the popularity of courses and colleges’ plans for HE growth. The SURF funding model is simple and transparent. Colleges receive 85 per cent of the HEFCE grant and fee income for all Staffordshire University validated HE awards, including any residual direct Edexcel awards. The university retains 15 per cent.


4.4 Working with employers

• Worcester College of Technology was one of the first further education colleges to receive support from HEFCE for workforce development

Worcester College of Technology and the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) – a co-funded partnership. The college has worked with the IPP for the past 15 years as sole provider of the IPP’s range of further education level 3 and 4 BTEC qualifications for over 900 part-time students. The students are located around the country and work in a payroll capacity for the private and public sectors.

• Staffordshire University and Stoke on Trent College

Project: Transforming the HE landscape: developing a business centre in the Stoke on Trent University Quarter

Assesment

• Warwickshire College

Assessment of work-based learning (WBL)

• Matthew Boulton College (MBC)

College and university responsibilities for quality assurance of assessment.

• South Birmingham College

Press release:

HND/C Business and Management students have been challenged to come up with business proposals to help the Digbeth-based Indoor, Outdoor and Rag Markets meet the changing needs of the consumer. The students will present their proposals to a Dragon’s Den-style panel made up of top bosses from the college, Birmingham City Council and Retail Birmingham.


Enhancing learning and teaching -staff developement

• Warwickshire College

Warwickshire College holds an HE conference three times a year. This day event includes plenaries and a range of workshops. The conference is open to all staff in the college who teach or support HE courses. The plenary sessions usually provide updates on key policies and developments, both nationally (such as IQER or the NSS) and at college level (including PDP, marketing and quality issues).


9.4 The Higher Education Academy

• Solihull College

HE in FE enhancement – working with the Higher Education Academy

Through a one day per week secondment arrangement, Solihull College’s HE curriculum development manager works with the senior adviser for HE in FE at the HEA and manages the teaching, learning and enhancement strand.


9.6 Developing a research culture

• Warwickshire College Research Group

Warwickshire College has set up a Research Group, and a proportion of the college’s HEFCE TQEF is earmarked to support research projects. Staff are invited to bid for funds for small-scale research projects.


Managing HE quality and standards in the college

• Staffordshire University Regional Federation (SURF)

Flexible Learning Approvals Panel (FLAP). Staffordshire University has recognised the need to move swiftly in response to market demand for shorter and commercial courses. The process of approval, however, is no less rigorous.