Welcome slide
The Higher Education Innovation Fund In England International Symposium on university costs and compacts July Canberra Steve Egan Deputy Chief Executive
History Current funding approach Results so far
History
Third stream - definition ‘trend among many universities toward a third function, which has been described using a range of terms such as knowledge transfer, community service, community engagement and the third stream.’ –‘Third Stream is about the interactions between universities and the rest of society.’ (SPRU, 2002)’
UK third stream story so far 1970s – technology transfer from US 1970/80s – constraints on public funding; ‘entrepreneurial’ university – diversified funding streams 1980/90s – UK Conservative Govt ‘no near market’ 1990s/2000s – UK New Labour focus on HE in economic and social development
Transition from Tech Transfer to Knowledge Exchange Where we have come from… Where we are going to… STEM focusAll disciplines Simple ‘transmission’ model of knowledgeDynamic exchange model Wealth creationInnovation, productivity, quality of life, cultural enrichment, civic dev, community regeneration etc. Large, multi-national businessesSpectrum from global to local/ regional and all users
B&C interaction or ‘third stream’: Scope COMMUNITY PUBLIC SECTOR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE BUSINESS Competitiveness, Growth Efficiency, Cohesion Cultural Enrichment & Quality of Life Resources & Opportunities PRIVATE SECTOR SOCIAL & CIVIC ARENA
Refresh, refine and review Evolution of third stream funding CULTURE CAPABILITY CAPACITY OUTPUT OUTCOME IMPACT HEIs - and their activities - will be at different stages on this trajectory…... Sustainable Strategy
HEFCE third stream funding
HEFCE’s Role HEFCE is institutional funder Provide infrastructure for research, teaching – and now third stream
Historical Funding View HEROBC HEIF 1 HEIF 2 HEACF BUSINESS FELLOWS HEACF KTCF ‘HEIF 3’ 3 rd stream formula funding Years Smaller scale projects
HEIF 4 – Funding available £112 million* £134 million £150 million (HEIF £111 million)
HEIF 4 – All Formula Formula: First component (40%) Capacity building and potential Academic staff numbers (FTE) Second component (60%) Performance Value/impact of B&C services (SME income double weighted) Based on basket of income metrics
Second component- metrics –Contract Research –Consultancy income –Income from business and community use of Equipment & facilities –Income for local and regional development and Regeneration (eg local & regional govt, European Union) –Intellectual Property Income –External Income for Continuing Professional Development courses –Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) [specialised KT scheme run by Govt for students working on company projects] Income from SMEs double-weighted throughout
HEIF 4 – Purpose of funds To support a broad range of third stream (knowledge transfer/exchange, enterprise etc) activities and infrastructure, resulting in economic and social benefit –Not only with private sector – also public sector and charities, community groups etc –Synergy with research and teaching
Focus of third stream % HEIs with a focus on each group (HEIF 4 strategies) SMEs85 Public sector orgs74 Large corporations51 Charities/voluntary38 Other private sector24 Freelance workers14
Institutional strategies All HEIs have been requested to submit an institutional strategy Acceptance of strategy by HEFCE – necessary for funding allocation to be confirmed and released ‘Strategy’ rather than ‘plan’ Not just plan for spending HEIF 4 Need to know about HEI’s overall strategic approach to third stream
Institutional Strategies – Analysis and dissemination Strategies approved to release funding (individual HEI feedback) Expert consultants to carry out analysis of strategies at sector level To inform policy makers, funders and stakeholders To support sharing of good practice around the sector Publication of overview report Publication of all approved strategies Expected to approve all strategies and release funding; and Commend some
Evaluation “to evaluate what has been achieved by HEFCE/Government 3rd stream funding to achieve culture change and embed capacity toward optimising the direct and indirect economic impact of HE [assumed baseline 1999]" Key Aspects Internal Culture Change External Impact Method Survey Case Study
Successes and lessons learnt
Selected HE-BCI Indicators Income from HEFCE funded HEIs/ £ Millions (real terms) Collaborative research n/a Consultancy n/a Equipment services n/a Regeneration n/a CPDn/a n/a Contract researchn/a n/a IP (including sale of shares)n/a n/a % HEFCE funded HEIs which provide: Distance learning for businesses52%53%n/a 66%68%70%68% Short bespoke courses on client's premises65%68%n/a 79%82%86%84% Enquiry point for SMEs82%85%n/a 89%90%92% Required contracting system for all consultancy54%62%n/a 63%66%73%
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results 77% HEIs third stream clearly integrated in mission –23% loosely –0% not integrated
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results Top KT activities (by no. of HEIs) –CPD (77% HEIs) –entrepreneurship education (60%) –consultancy (58%)
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results Top targeted user sectors: –Creative & cultural (81% HEIs) –Energy & Environment (38%) –Public and Third Sectors (36%)
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results Spatial focii to KT –82 % regional –66% local –52% national –51% international
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results - More Top methods of engaging academics –63% incentive schemes –59% incorporating KT into promotions etc –56% training, workshops etc
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results - More Academic engagement – range of HEIs from c.20% of academics doing 3 rd stream, to 100%
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results - More Breakdown of use of HEIF funding (total HE sector) –52% dedicated KT staff –15% direct academic engagement –5.5% PofC funds
Initial HEIF 4 Analysis Results - More Importance of HEIF funding to the HEI 55% critically important 35% very important 10% moderately important
Other reflections Value of large scale collaborative projects for innovation; but issue of sustainability Diversity of economic and social needs; fits with a bottom-up approach to engagement Formula funding enabling HEIs to build their own strategic approaches; and helps embedding Opportunity costs with Teaching but especially Research
A Word on Missions Embedding third stream Strategic Development Fund: institutional transformation Eg ‘3rd as 2 nd ’ projects Employer engagement/workforce development
Thank you
Welcome slide
Glossary of terms Main programme: –HEROBC – HE Reach Out to Business and the Community; initial HEFCE programme (inclusive but small scale) –HEIF – HE Innovation Fund; developed out of HEROBC working with Science Budget funders; larger scale but narrower focus to start Smaller initiatives rolled into HEIF 3: –HEACF – HE Active Community Fund; Home Office funding for voluntering –Business Fellows –KTCF – Knowledge Transfer Capability Fund: exploratory of T intensive HEIs responsibilities