12.24 In like manner, it will be the responsibility of HEFCE to secure funding to promote wider access to the rich diversity of higher education identified by the Dearing committee as one of the higher education system's most important strengths. As lifelong learning for all develops, more people are likely to look either to their local institution of higher education for part-time programmes of learning or further afield for high quality distance or open learning programmes. Mechanisms need to be in place to facilitate such developments and to support them with appropriate funding.
12.25 Appropriate reward systems will also need to be devised which recognise excellence in teaching and in the wider dissemination and application of high quality research through means additional to those of scholarly publication. in this latter regard, it would be useful for HEFCE to explore ways in which its pilot projects in widening participation can be embedded in mainstream funding.
12.26 Where necessary, Funding Councils for further and higher education, and other funding bodies, should take steps to adjust their funding methodologies to widen participation in lifelong learning. They should also revise such other schemes which they control or influence in respect of inspection, audit, strategic planning, review, celebration and dissemination. Where partnerships clearly promote access to lifelong learning, both between educational institutions and with other potential learning partners, special tranches of money should be identified to reward such initiatives and appropriate measurements of success should be introduced.
12.27 In developing their own policies and priorities for lifelong learning, the Funding Councils should pay particular attention to the emphasis given to widening, deepening and enriching participation in learning by the Kennedy Committee and Dearing Review of Higher Education. The Councils should ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to reward institutions and staff who can clearly demonstrate their contribution to a national strategy to develop a culture of lifelong learning for all.
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