14 February 2018 Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
The top priority of the vast majority of V-Cs is protecting financial viability and security of their institution, according to PA Consulting’s annual survey of university leaders. 49 V-Cs responded to this year’s survey which, for this year, included topical questions on recent political ‘antagonism’, and Brexit.
Another interesting finding of Forecasts of Storms is that “A significant proportion of respondents expected to see the sector shrink and stratify over coming years: 25% thought shrinking provision and reduced choice to be highly likely, with 57% regarding this as quite possible, while 37% regarded increased stratification of providers as highly likely”.
In related news, separate research by the Guardian/HSBC finds that 63% of V-Cs feel more pessimistic than they did a year ago. UUK Chief Executive Alastair Jarvis has responded in the Guardian and warns that “an extended period of political and financial uncertainty and declining investment risks eroding the positive impact of universities”. All in time for a “day of reckoning” for tuition fees?