“Universities are in for a rocky ride. These cuts will call the viability of some universities into question and at the same time create greater urgency to pursue efficiency savings. Additionally, Lord Browne’s proposals are likely to create greater diversity in the sector and possibly lead to an increase in mergers and collaborations between institutions.
“In a more market led system, students will become more demanding and expect greater transparency in terms of the nature of courses, contact time with academic staff, and their employment prospects. Universities will need to carry out a strategic reassessment of their structure, courses and prices to survive in the new environment. The two key elements critical to thriving will be honesty about the size of the challenge ahead and decisive leadership.”
