The Higher Education Green Paper published on 6 November 2015 makes proposals to reform the higher education system. The paper proposes introducing the Teaching Excellence Framework to assess teaching quality in higher education institutions and reward those with excellent teaching. It will also introduce a single entry route into higher education to level the playing field between public providers and private providers, strengthen activities around access to higher education and abolish the Higher Education Funding Council for England and replace it with a new body the Office for Students. The consultation on the Green Paper closes on 15 January 2016 and it is anticipated that a higher education bill will follow.
Higher Education Green Paper 2015 Fulfilling Our Potential (5 MB , PDF)
The Green Paper, Fulfilling Our Potential, published on 6 November 2015 set out proposals to:
The paper has been generally welcomed by commentators in the sector, particularly the paper’s emphasis on widening participation and social mobility. The proposals on the TEF and opening up the market to new higher education providers however have caused some concern.
Responses to the paper must be received by 15 January 2016. The paper will be followed by a Technical Consultation document giving details on the proposals and guidance on removing barriers to entry to the higher education sector which will be published in summer 2016.
Higher education is a devolved matter so most of the proposals in the Green Paper apply to England only. However, funding delivered through the research councils and some broader elements of research policy are reserved matters, so the proposals on research funding apply across the UK.
Higher Education Green Paper 2015 Fulfilling Our Potential (5 MB , PDF)
A debate on the attainment and engagement of boys in education is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Thursday 10 July 2025. The subject for the debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be led by Sam Rushworth MP.
The government met its 2030 international student recruitment target of 600,000 ten years early and numbers have continued to increase since 2020. This briefing looks at student numbers, government policy, and the economic impact of international students.
Average loan debt and the overall scale of loans have increased over time as the Government has shifted funding for maintenance and teaching to loans. This has led to concerns about the burden of debt, high interest rates and the cost of loans to the taxpayer.