What is meant by autonomy? The 3 dimensions of autonomy
o Managerial Autonomy- Vice-Chancellor is appointed by University Council- Councils are self appointed & supreme
o Academic autonomy- Students- Staff- Programmes & Curriculum
o Financial autonomy- Block Grant- Multiple funding sources- Balances
Borrowing Overdrafts
Sources of University Income 2001-02
41%
17%
6%
17%
17%
2%
Total Funding Council Grants
Total Academic Fees andSupport Grants
Overseas Student Fees
Total Research Grants andcontracts
Total Other Operating Income
Total Endowment Income
Source: HESA finance record 2001-02, HEFCE-funded HEIs
Some universities are almost completely self-sufficient
Chart 40: % income from Funding Councils, 1998/ 99
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lower decile = 30%Median = 44%
Upper decile = 59%
Proportion of UK entries in the annual top 1% of the world’s most highly cited papers
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
1995 1998 2000
Per
cent
age
outp
erfo
rman
ce
Student Non-Completion
o 18%, compared to 16% in 1985/86- meanwhile participation has more than doubled, and the
student profile has changed immenselyo This compares with:
o The range in the UK is from 1% to 36%. o NB our worst is better than most countries’ average.NB International Comparators from OECD ‘Education at a Glance’
Germany 28%USA 37%France 45%Italy 66%
Der Spiegel’s review of HE in Europe
‘Thanks to their excellent achievements the British … occupy only the top places in the table’
A diverse system
Chart 40: % income from Funding Councils, 1998/ 99
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lower decile = 30%Median = 44%
Upper decile = 59%
% income from funding councils
Brian Ramsden: Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom. July 2001
A diverse system
Chart 6: Percentage of students following postgraduate programmes
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Median = 21%
Lower decile = 9%
Upper decile = 41%
Chart 40: % income from Funding Councils, 1998/ 99
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lower decile = 30%Median = 44%
Upper decile = 59%
% income from funding councils% students following PG courses
Brian Ramsden: Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom. July 2001
A diverse system
Chart 6: Percentage of students following postgraduate programmes
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Median = 21%
Lower decile = 9%
Upper decile = 41%
Chart 40: % income from Funding Councils, 1998/ 99
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lower decile = 30%Median = 44%
Upper decile = 59%
Chart 10: Percentage part-time students
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Upper decile = 44%
Median = 28%
Lower decile = 6%
% income from funding councils% students following PG courses
% students following part-time courses
Brian Ramsden: Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom. July 2001
A diverse system
Chart 6: Percentage of students following postgraduate programmes
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Median = 21%
Lower decile = 9%
Upper decile = 41%
Chart 40: % income from Funding Councils, 1998/ 99
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lower decile = 30%Median = 44%
Upper decile = 59%
Chart 10: Percentage part-time students
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Upper decile = 44%
Median = 28%
Lower decile = 6%
Chart 7: Percentage of students following undergraduate programmes not directly leading to degrees
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Median = 16%
Upper decile = 33%
% income from funding councils% students following PG courses
% students following part-time courses % non-1st degree undergraduates
Brian Ramsden: Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom. July 2001
A diverse system (amount of research funding)
75% of funds to 24 universities
HEFCE Research Funds (£) by institution
0
10,000,000
20,000,000
30,000,000
40,000,000
50,000,000
60,000,000
70,000,000
80,000,000
1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 113 120 127
Institution
QR
Fun
ds (£
)
A diverse system – student ability
English universities by qualifications on entry and Social Class of entrants
0
10
20
30
HEI
Av
era
ge
A-l
ev
el p
oin
ts o
n e
ntr
y
Institutions of the same size can receive very different grant
Size of Institution & HEFCE Grant
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
FTEs
Recu
rrent
G
rant
in £
,000
s
