The UK government has today published its much publicised framework (see right) on the future of the nation’s universities. It is yet another clearly defined policy for UK universities, and not contradictory at all…

The government wants to prioritise degree courses in science and engineering subjects because of the high level skills they provide students entering the workforce. To do so, it will ramp up competition between universities for public funds for teaching, with the “winners” being those universities that can best provide students with skills that enhance the UK’s competitive advantage. “To allow funds to be diverted to courses that meet strategic skills needs they will be diverted away from institutions whose courses fail to meet high standards of quality or outcome,” it says. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will launch a consultation on how this should be done. Ok so far, although, it’s not yet clear how much money will be diverted and from where.

But while pushing for more competition between institutions in one area, the government also wants institutions to increase collaboration in another. It wants to see more universities working together in research fields so that the “best researchers can collaborate rather than compete against each other for scare funds”. Easier said than done. The report also says the UK research landscape will in future see more research funds concentrated in the top few universities. Not every institution should feel that research success is central to it mission, it says. But, it adds, “We do not, however, intend formally to designate research and non-research institutions.”

Universities UK, an umbrella group, says a “considered debate” on how to increase competition between institutions is needed.

“However, if contestability implies taking money from core teaching and research funds, and making institutions bid for it, it risks inefficiency, frustrating longer-term planning, and could act as a barrier to effective strategic management within the sector. The dimensions of contestability will need careful thought,” UUK says in a statement.