1. Fee and access plans – what are they and why be involved?
Jane Johns
Head of Widening Access and Inclusion
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

2. Fee and access planning
What are fee and access plans?
What is the fee and access planning process?
Why are plans important – for institutions, for students?
What information is in a fee and access plan– who decides?
What HEFCW does to encourage student involvement?
How can students contribute to fee and access planning?
Monitoring, evaluating and varying fee and access plans.

3. What are plans and why are they important?
The HE (Wales) Act 2015
New regulatory system for HE in Wales - revised arrangements for ‘regulated institutions’ for
fee controls - maximum of £9k fees
fair access – widening access
quality of education; and
financial assurance
Enhanced regulatory role for HEFCW
terms and conditions of funding relating to designation for student support
Fee and access plan is tool of regulation

4. 2017/18 fee and access process The first plans in the new process
The HE Act 2015 and regulations and notices – from Sept 15
Welsh Government guidance to HEFCW – January 2016
HEFCW consult, event, guidance – February – April 2016
The FAP application process – April – July 2016
Approval, publication, HEFCW feedback, process review – August – Nov 16
Report to Welsh Government – December 2016

5. Information in a plan – who decides?
Plans include information and commitments
the institution, fee levels and supporting equality of opportunity and the promotion of HE
groups under-represented in higher education
attracting and retaining groups under-represented in HE
financial help for students
the amount of funding to support activities in the plan
targets and how plans will be delivered and monitored

6. Fee and access plans for 2017/18
10 plans approved, marketing & recruitment began on schedule.
£106m invested in plans – of which:
£30m in student financial support (fee waivers, bursaries, scholarships, hardship funds, provision of financial management advice and skills and other financial support).
student voice and student engagement evidenced
Accessible, published documents

7. What does HEFCW do to encourage student involvement?
provides guidance to institutions that encourages student engagement
WISE Wales statement on partnership for HE
Breaking down the barriers to student opportunities and youth social action
Guide to providing information to prospective undergraduate students
works closely with NUS Wales
NUS Wales President an observer on HEFCW Council
runs workshops and speaks at events

8. How can students contribute to fee and access planning?
The Student Charter
The governing body
Working with partner institutions
Student representatives
Providing evidence
Campaigns
Target-setting
Monitoring and evaluating

9. How to raise students’ awareness of fee and access plans?
Students’ Union training of new existing representatives
NUS Wales training or events on fee and access planning
Handover updates from outgoing student representatives

10. Examples of good practice
Regular conversations between SU and senior management
Student representation on key committees
Survey results feeding in to plans
Handover updates from outgoing student representatives
Providing an annual report to students on how plan income was spent

11. Advice to HEFCW
What are the challenges for institutions and students in ensuring effective Students’ Union involvement?
What more might institutions do to raise awareness of fee an access planning processes and increase student involvement?
What more might Students’ Unions do to engage in the fee and access planning process?
Are there any examples of good practice, or other issues, HEFCW should consider in encouraging greater Students’ Union involvement in the fee and access planning process?