Collaborative solutions for higher education challenges

About this project

This programme of work is focused on exploring collective, collaborative, and inter-institutional activities to help address the pressing challenges facing higher education and create a more sustainable and efficient operational model.

The need for this project

The UK higher education sector is facing significant challenges, including rising costs for infrastructure, technology, and student support services, combined with inflation and economic instability.

Changes in immigration policies and global political dynamics are impacting international student recruitment, while increasing scrutiny about the value and cost of higher education threatens funding.

Additionally, student complaints about education quality, the need for welfare and mental health support, and demands for a better student experience are rising. The sector is also struggling with a rapidly changing technological landscape, where maintaining legacy systems, new policy requirements, and heightened expectations are becoming unsustainable.

The power of collaboration

We were founded to provide shared networking and information services for higher education institutions in the UK. Over the years, the scope of our work has expanded to reflect the changing needs of the sector.

Our commitment to improving education and research through shared services and collaborative initiatives remains central to this.

The integration of data, digital, and technology into all aspects of university operations presents a unique opportunity for institutions to work collectively to improve service quality, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.

Phase one: identifying key opportunities for collaboration

In phase one we are working with KPMG to explore where collective and inter-institutional collaboration could benefit the sector in the realm of digital, data and technology.

We have spoken with 40 individuals from 22 institutions in the UK, as well as Australia and the USA. We have developed a longlist and shortlist of opportunities based on the level of differentiation needed, technical feasibility and business case.

We are examining what is needed to effect this kind of change and the next steps to this.