05 June 2019 
Karel Thomas, Executive Director
One of the many definitions [to be found on the web] of “speculation” is, “the activity of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain”. Despite the huge amount of information in the Independent panel report to the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding and the vast amount of comment in the media, no one can be certain what the consequences of this 216-page report will be. There is consensus amongst the sages of Higher Education that there will be consequences, even if this or future governments do not act on the panel’s recommendations. BUFDG has been asked several times “what’s the view of Finance Directors?”, maybe in the hope that we might have a unique insight and one definitive answer to the many conundrums facing policy-makers but, more likely, to see if our speculations are any different. The certain answer from Finance Directors has to be that the consequences for higher education providers and students will be varied. It is not going to affect just English providers – there will be impact on institutions in other UK regions if English students look less attractive to Scottish Universities and English universities look more attractive to Welsh students. Student behaviour and research funders’ attitudes will be influenced and the general public now has another perspective on the world of experts.
If you are a Finance Director and would like to share your thoughts on the Discussion Board, the debate at the forthcoming regional meetings will be more informed. Speculation, in its many guises, makes the world go round but just now it feels like Augar has made ours spin a little faster.
