HE Funding 2024: Where Next?

Tuesday 10th December 2024
9:30 am - 3:00pm
Virtual Conference

This Conference will offer an opportunity to deep-dive into the next steps in addressing the funding crisis in higher education and how providers can manage planning on financial sustainability.

The Conference will:

  • Dissect what the tuition fee rise announcement means for the sector

  • Assess what the government will expect on reform of the sector in upcoming proposals

  • Evaluate the next steps for providers on financial planning and sustainability

  • Explore the routes to a long-term solution on the financial model for higher education

  • Examine the approaches to managing financial risk and preventing disorderly market exits

Headline Speakers

The Rt Hon Lord Willetts
President, Resolution Foundation
Former Minister of State for Universities and Science

Professor Jenny Higham
Vice Chancellor
University of Suffolk

Mark Corver
Founding and Managing Director
dataHE

Professor Shitij Kapur
Vice-Chancellor & President
King's College London

Agenda

09:30 am

Morning Chair: Welcome Address

Ian Turgoose
Head of External Engagement
Sheffield Hallam University (CONFIRMED)

09:40 am

Leaders’ Panel Discussion: The Big Questions Ahead on Financial Sustainability

  • The immediate challenges facing the sector: examining the risk of widespread deficits and the potential of market exits

  • What the rise in tuition fees from 2025/26 means for the stability of the sector

  • What to expect from the government’s upcoming proposals for reform following the tuition fee rise

  • How the Universities UK Blueprint can form a guide to what comes next on reform

  • The choices that lie ahead for university leaders on operating models, delivery structures and efficiencies

  • Beyond a stop gap: what are long term solutions to rethinking the funding model and preventing future cliff edges?

Sarah Bevan
Head of Funding Policy
Universities UK (CONFIRMED)

The Rt Hon Lord Willetts
President, Resolution Foundation
Former Minister of State for Universities and Science (CONFIRMED)

Professor Shitij Kapur
Vice-Chancellor & President
King's College London (CONFIRMED)

Alistair Jarvis CBE
Pro Vice Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance)
University of London (CONFIRMED)

Professor Shân Wareing
Vice Chancellor
Middlesex University(CONFIRMED)

Professor Christopher Day
Vice-Chancellor and President
Newcastle University (CONFIRMED)

10:50 am

Break and Networking

11:00 am

A National Conversation on Higher Education Funding – How Do We Gain Buy In Beyond the Sector?

  • Examining perceptions on the funding system in HE across key stakeholders and the wider public

  • Assessing awareness on the eroding value of tuition fees, maintenance packages and what this means for provision

  • How do we develop innovative ideas and solutions to addressing the funding crisis that can drive public support?

  • How do we rethink the way higher education is delivered and explore alterative funding solutions that can address the political concerns of government?

Professor Jenny Higham
Vice Chancellor
University of Suffolk (CONFIRMED)

11:30 am

Afternoon Chair: Welcome Address

Rachael Richards
Director of Public Affairs
Durham University (CONFIRMED)

11:40 am

How the Funding Problem for Teaching UK Students is Changing Universities

  • How deep is the funding problem in teaching UK students and where does it show up?

  • How might this be altering demand and supply and what might we expect for student numbers in the future.

  • Does the data have any suggestions for solutions?

Mark Corver
Founding and Managing Director
dataHE (CONFIRMED)

12:30 pm

Break and Networking

1:30 pm

Exploring the AECC and UCO Merger: What Did We Learn?

  • Merger context and process

  • Key milestones

  • Unforeseen challenges and how these were handled

  • Lessons learned and advice for others contemplating merger

Professor Lesley Haig
Vice-Chancellor
Health Sciences University (CONFIRMED)

2:15 pm

Market Exit, Merger, Transformation Plan? What Are the Alternatives for Providers in Immediate Financial Peril?

  • The choices facing a provider that faces insolvency

  • Building a transformation plan for providers that can demonstrate to lenders future financial stability

  • When are mergers or acquisitions the best outcome?

  • Assessing when government emergency support would be needed to prevent disorderly market exits

  • Examining where orderly market exits may be required for providers that can no longer demonstrate value

Poppy Short
Partner
Mills and Reeve (CONFIRMED)

Neil Smyth
Partner
Mills and Reeve (CONFIRMED)

3:00 pm

Conference Close

*Programme subject to change

Audience

This event is designed for the higher education sector. Those in attendance will include:

  • Chief Finance Officers

  • Chief Operating Officers

  • Deputy Vice Chancellors

  • Director of Strategic Planning and Performance

  • Directors of External Relations

  • Directors of Finance

  • Directors of Policy and Engagement

  • Directors of Strategy and Insight

  • Directors of Transformation

  • Executive Deans

  • Financial Controllers

  • Heads of Governance

  • Heads of Policy

  • Heads of Scenario Planning

  • Heads of Strategy

  • Pro Vice Chancellors

  • Registrars

  • Risk Managers

  • University Secretaries

  • Vice Chancellors 

Secure Your Ticket

Public Sector (HE)

£345 + VAT

Attendance to HE Funding 2024: Where Next?

Private Sector

£595 + VAT

Attendance to HE Funding 2024: Where Next?

For group discounts and enquiries about your registration please contact us on enquiries@heprofessional.co.uk