Strategies for Crafting a Innovative Higher Education Model that Aligns with Financial Demands
In a series of policy briefings, the UK Government has been examining the role of higher education in supporting the nation's economic needs, particularly in the creative industries. One such paper, authored by Lesley Giles, Director of Work Advance, titled "[Policy Brief Title]," offers insights into this crucial topic.
The paper, based on a PEC Discussion Paper: "Creative Industries Innovation in Seaside Resorts and Country Towns," provides a comprehensive analysis of the audiences and workforce in arts, culture, and heritage, using census data. It also sets out areas for possible policy action in authors' earnings in the UK.
One of the key findings is the government's focus on strategic importance in higher education subjects. While a formal, detailed assessment framework explicitly titled for determining "Strategic Importance" has not been publicly disclosed, some context and indicators can be discerned.
The government has prioritised research and innovation (R&I) funding aligned with national priorities, such as investing £20.4 billion in R&I by 2025-26. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is directed to coordinate closely with government departments to ensure alignment with strategic goals like Health, Energy Security, and Net Zero. This suggests that strategic importance may be tied to national industrial and research agendas.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and modular acceleration programmes emphasise funding and support towards qualifications and skills aligned with industrial strategy priorities. This indicates that subjects aligned with economic and skills needs are prioritised.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing transformations and restructurings in higher education, including consolidation of institutions and reforms to qualifications to better match occupational standards designed by employers. These changes reflect a system increasingly focused on economic utility and employability of graduates.
However, there is documented tension between the government's ambitions and the burdens of bureaucracy, managerialism, and constrained academic freedom in practice. This ambivalence may lead stakeholders in higher education to feel that strategic importance assessments risk being overly bureaucratic, overly focused on short-term economic gains, or insufficiently transparent, which can fuel unease or criticism.
The creative industries, a priority economic sector, are facing challenges due to the deprioritisation of many creative higher education courses, threatening the future talent pipeline. The UK television production sector, one of Britain's leading creative export sectors, is not exempt from these concerns.
To address these issues, the policy brief outlines recommendations for transitioning to more sustainable theatre production and constructively shaping the higher education assessment process to support the creative industries. As more precise details on the official "Strategic Importance" framework become available, the landscape of higher education and the creative industries is likely to evolve further.
References: - Giles, L, (2021) [Policy Brief Title], Available from: https://www.our website/policy-briefings/[Policy Brief Title] - Giles, L, (2021) How to design a creative higher education system that supports economic needs. Available from: https://www.our website/policy-briefings/how-to-design-a-creative-higher-education-system-that-supports-economic-need
[1] UK Research and Innovation. (2021). Delivering a UK Research and Innovation Strategy: Investing in UK Research Infrastructure. Available from: https://www.ukri.org/our-work/strategy/ [2] Department for Education. (2020). Lifelong Learning Entitlement: Consultation Response. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lifelong-learning-entitlement-consultation-response/ [3] Higher Education Policy Institute. (2020). Consolidation and Mergers in Higher Education. Available from: https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2020/05/28/consolidation-and-mergers-in-higher-education/ [4] Higher Education Funding Council for England. (2019). Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework. Available from: https://www.hefce.ac.uk/lt/tef/ [5] Millward, N, & Choudry, S, (2019). The Government's Agenda for Higher Education: A Critical Perspective. Available from: https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/news-and-events/news/2019/the-government-s-agenda-for-higher-education-a-critical-perspective
- The paper by Lesley Giles discusses the necessity of higher education in supporting the creative industries, focusing on the roles of audiences, workforce in arts, culture, and heritage.
- The paper, drawing from the PEC Discussion Paper, utilizes census data for an extensive analysis of the creative industries' audiences and workforce.
- The Government's policy brief, titled "[Policy Brief Title]," highlights the strategic importance of higher education subjects.
- Despite no explicitly disclosed assessment framework for determining "Strategic Importance," some context and indicators can be inferred.
- The Government has prioritized research and innovation (R&I) funding, aiming to invest £20.4 billion in R&I by 2025-26.
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is tasked with coordinating closely with government departments to ensure alignment with strategic goals like Health, Energy Security, and Net Zero.
- The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and modular acceleration programmes prioritize qualifications and skills aligned with the industrial strategy policies.
- The transformations and restructurings in higher education, such as consolidation of institutions and reforms to qualifications, suggest an emphasis on economic utility and employability of graduates.
- Documented tension exists between the Government's ambitions and the burdens of bureaucracy and constrained academic freedom in practice.
- The creative industries, facing challenges due to the deprioritization of creative higher education courses, are at risk of a talent pipeline shortage, including the UK television production sector.
- To address these concerns, the policy brief offers recommendations for sustainable theatre production and constructive higher education assessment process reform, while acknowledging the evolving landscape as more details on the "Strategic Importance" framework emerge.
