Universities UK's Chair Hints At New Era Of Collaboration Between Universities

Study in UK: Sir Nigel Carrington, the new Chair of the Universities UK will lead over a dozen experts in the university sector.

Study Abroad: Sir Nigel Carrington, former Vice Chancellor at University of the Arts London and international Mergers & Acquisitions lawyer has been appointed as the new Chair of the Universities UK's Taskforce on Efficiency and Transformation in Higher Education.

The taskforce will assess the efficiencies of the university sector and make recommendations on what else can be achieved. The taskforce will look for the collaboration opportunities to improve student experience while reducing the cost.

UK Universities’ Plan To Collaborate For Sector’s Growth

The new Chair commented, "This critical work will usher in a new era of collaboration and cooperation between universities to drive even greater value to students and taxpayers. While institutions have been doing more and more to be as efficient as possible, they have largely been doing so at an individual level. Truly impactful transformation will best be delivered through partnership and collaboration at both a regional and a national level. It is time for some blue sky thinking on what that looks like. Transformation to reduce costs is not all we need though. Our work will drive meaningful change by creating evidence-led recommendations around working well together and being productive for the long-term."

Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education said, "The dire situation we inherited means we have had to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of higher education and deliver change for students. I welcome the launch of the UUK taskforce and look forward to seeing innovative and robust proposals to help secure a sustainable future for higher education. This government remains committed to restoring universities as engines of growth, opportunity and aspiration, as we seek to break down barriers to opportunity through our Plan for Change."

The taskforce will also provide support to leaders at the individual universities by sharing good practices in income generation, transformation, and efficiency.

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, President of UUK and Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of St Andrews said, "Our universities are a global success story. They are also critical regional employers, engines of growth, and equip our future workforce with the skills the UK needs to thrive. To be fit for the future, they need both sustainable funding and a shared commitment to working together to unlock savings. While universities have continually adapted to do more with less, we need to think carefully, but creatively, about new opportunities and models. This work will allow us to learn from each other and to work in partnership to drive meaningful change. I am delighted Nigel will lead this ambitious programme of work. He has a wealth of experience in both the private sector and in higher education.  He will bring together high-level commercial and restructuring experience with a deep understanding of our sector, underlined by his success in restructuring a very complex and devolved institution.”

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