Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
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The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, and an intermediary body between the Welsh Assembly Government and the higher education sector in Wales.
[edit] HEFCW business
HEFCW is responsible for funding higher education in Wales. It distributes funds for education, research and related activities at eleven higher education institutions, including the teaching activities of the Open University in Wales. It also funds higher education courses at further education colleges.
Its vision is to develop and sustain internationally excellent higher education in Wales, for the benefit of individuals, society and the economy, in Wales and more widely.
The organisation strategically uses resources from the Welsh Assembly Government and others to: • secure higher education learning and research of the highest quality; • make the most of the contribution of higher education to the culture, society and economy or Wales; and • ensure high quality, accredited teacher training across Wales.
In order to
• Enhance social justice; and
• Support a buoyant economy.
HEFCW has five strategic themes:
- Widening access: ensuring equity, opportunity and success in higher education.
- Student experience: ensuring that the student learning experience is of high quality.
- Skills: ensuring that all graduates are equipped for the world of work and for their role as citizens.
- Knowledge transfer: ensuring more productive relationships between higher education institutions and public/private sectors, local communities and other agencies.
- Research: ensuring improved research performance to underpin the knowledge economy and cultural and social renewal.
These are underpinned by HEFCW's 'enabling themes' of:
- Reconfiguration and Collaboration: delivering a reconfigured higher education system with strong providers that, through partnership working, particularly regionally, offers more accessible higher education opportunities.
- Governance: delivering continual improvement in the quality of governance and long term sustainability of the higher education system.
[edit] Background and status
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) was established in May 1992 under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. HEFCW's responsibilities for initial teacher training (ITT), including the accreditation of ITT providers, are covered under the Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2004 and the Education Act 2005.
As an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, HEFCW receives its funds from, and is accountable to, the Welsh Assembly Government. At the same time, HEFCW provides advice to the Assembly Government on the funding needs, aspirations and concerns of the higher education sector. HEFCW also promotes Welsh interests in the wider UK higher education arena.
Around 56 members of staff work for HEFCW's Executive, which is based in Llanishen in north Cardiff, Wales. HEFCW is governed by a Council of up to 12 members, including the Chairman, Mr Roger Thomas, and the Chief Executive, Professor Philip Gummett.
