A roundup of news and comment on efficiency in higher education.
Our lively debate and webcast on ‘Shared Services to enhance the student experience’ held on 3 July is now available on the Efficiency Exchange YouTube channel. Here you will find video clips offering an introduction to cost sharing group exemption from Steve Butcher, Head of Procurement and Shared Services at Hefce, as well as a wide range of insights and examples from an expert panel which also includes Chris Cobb, Chief Operating Officer of the University of London, Simon Fanshawe OBE and former Chair of the Governing Council of the University of Sussex, Tim Marshall, Jisc Executive Director Technology and Infrastructure and Divisional CEO Janet, and Andrew Rothwell of the Centre for Global Sourcing and Services at Loughborough University.
The 3 July event also marked the release of an expanded set of resources, guidance and case studies on shared services.
In the context of new EU directives on social imperatives in public sector procurement, universities should aim for social value in their procurement, Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northampton, told the Inside Government Conference on 20 June.
A study of ‘Procurement as a strategic asset in higher education‘, commissioned by the Efficiency Exchange, has gathered material to showcase the strategic value of procurement to the sector and how it can raise its profile, especially at senior leadership levels. Also available are case studies on procurement, including those extracted from the report.
Faced with 85% cuts to teaching and capital funding, universities generally have two options if they wish to improve their campuses: borrow or save. So says Professor Quintin McKellar CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, who discusses the impact of cuts on capital investment – with linked case study.
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Contact: Ian Powling ian.powling@universitiesuk.ac.uk
