HEFCE goes regional look for

A NEW look for the Higher Education Funding Council for England is planned from this summer to boost its work with the regions. Offices will be restructured to make senior officials responsible for each of nine regions, reflecting Government-defined divisions.

Advertisements for some of these posts will go out in the next two weeks.

The officials will be based in the council's Bristol headquarters but will regularly travel to institutions in their regions. Informal arrangements are likely with the Further Education Funding Council to share space in its regional offices, which are already arranged along the same lines.

Pressure for the revamp has come from vice chancellors anxious for more face-to-face contact with senior funding council officers. Institutions are also becoming keener to respond to local needs as more students stay at home and lifelong learning is encouraged. A survey found the HEFCE's present divisions did not provide enough direct contact.

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