Facing the Future: The Key Challenges Shaping the Higher Education Landscape

On Wednesday 4th of December, Goodman Masson held a Webinar to discuss the challenges facing the Higher Education sector and the best ways to overcome them. Our expert panel included Ruth Hall, Associate Director – Statutory Returns at the University of Nottingham, Tony Whitmore, Associate Vice-President for Higher Education at Mastek and Callum Drabble, Transformation and Delivery Consultant for CTDynamics. With over 25 years of collective higher education experience, they led an insightful and informative session covering some key pain points experienced universally across the sector.

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The event began discussing the issue of staff retention, with the whole panel agreeing that the pressure to do more with fewer resources and a struggle to prioritise tasks were contributing to people leaving. Leaders must make tough decisions about what adds value and what does not, ensuring that staff can focus on essential work while avoiding overload. Additionally, Universities need to better communicate the non-financial benefits of working in Higher Education, such as opportunities for learning and development, flexibility and involvement in meaningful projects.

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The panel discussed the differences between London based Universities and the rest of the UK, in regards to the competition from other employers, with the capital home to several private companies who can offer significantly higher salaries for similar roles. However, the general consensus was institutions must find ways to attract and retain talent by emphasising their unique selling points and creating a clear, engaging vision for the future.

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We moved onto reviewing the impact of reduced funds and ways to tackle this, beginning with alternative revenue streams. Opportunities exist in areas like community services, catering, accommodation and space utilisation. They can also work to strengthen ties to the local community, linking in with recruitment drives discussed later on. The discussion soon moved on to the rising cost of tuition fees and increased expectations from students. While some University leaders would rather avoid passing additional costs onto students, the significant financial pressure due to rising operational costs, national insurance contributions and political decisions cannot be understated. The need for a grown-up conversation about the sustainability of the current funding model was consistently noted.

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The discussion switched to the outdated technology and legacy systems, which, at times, can complicate efforts to improve efficiency. Replacing or upgrading systems is often seen as a necessity, but Universities must first assess their current systems in great detail, involving the broader organisation to prevent changes that don't align with the institution's long-term goals. Strong change management and data-driven decision making are essential to making effective and informed decisions, which can ultimately save money in the long run.

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The panel then considered the increasing difficulties of student recruitment. With alternatives to University becoming more prevalent, alongside new policies diminishing the opportunities for international students to study in the UK, institutions must think outside the box to bring in and retain cohorts. Universities should also embrace their civic duty more, increasing engagement with their local communities and really showcasing the notion that Higher Education is for everyone.

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Data was a recurring theme throughout the Webinar, with the guest speakers explaining how crucial a role it should play in recruitment and retention. Gathering and analysing data helps inform decision making and improve student satisfaction by identifying where the real value-add sits within each institution, ensuring the prioritisation of the right initiatives.

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In summary, the Higher Education sector is navigating significant challenges related to staff retention, reduced funding, legacy technology and student recruitment. Each panel member brought differing insights on the issues and solutions. However, they did agree that focusing on data-driven, value-added decisions was a non-negotiable starting point. There is not always a simple fix, but being innovative, positive and strategic will certainly push anyone in the right direction.

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If you'd like to discuss this topic in further detail or learn about our upcoming events, please get in touch:‍

Ellie Bowdidge
‍E: ellie.bowdidge@goodmanmasson.com
T: +44 (0)74 8888 7816