Recommendations: 63, 66

Recommendation 63: We recommend to the Government that, in the medium term, there is no change to the current criteria for university status; but that, for the future, there should be a period of relative stability in the number of universities with the weight accorded to the numerical criteria reduced and greater emphasis placed on a distinctive role and characteristics in awarding this status; and that the Government should give notice of this.

9.11 The Government agrees that there should be no immediate change to the current criteria for university status, and thinks it right that institutions which already have research degree awarding powers, and apply for a university title within the next three years, should be judged against those criteria. It also agrees that there should then be a period of relative stability in the number of universities. It notes the Committee’s concern that elements in the present criteria may have a distorting effect on institutions’ behaviour. It intends in the first instance to ask the QAA, in co-operation with the Funding Councils, to review the impact of the present criteria for university status, and in particular whether any criteria have had a distorting effect, and, if so, to advise on how this might be avoided.

Recommendation 66: We recommend to the Government and the Funding Bodies that there is greater clarity about where responsibility lies for decisions about the establishment of new universities; and that criteria are developed for deciding such cases and allocating public funding.

9.12 The Government will be considering and consulting on criteria for deciding whether an area needs a new university or other higher education institution.

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