The Efficiency and Modernisation Task Group was set up by Universities UK in September 2010 to identify ways in which institutions could work more efficiently.
Led by Professor Ian Diamond, the work of the Task Group has played an central role in demonstrating the higher education sector's continued commitment to ensuring value-for-money. The importance of the project was made clear when the work was highlighted in the 2011 higher education white paper.
The findings of the Task Group were launched at the Efficiency in higher education conference (hosted by Universities UK) in September 2011. The report, Efficiency and effectiveness in higher education (better known as the Diamond review) made a number of recommendations for:
- developing more coordinated approaches to procurement
- streamlining internal processes across core operational areas
- improving the use of data and benchmarking to drive efficiency
- optimising the use of shared services and outsourcing
The report drew on the experience and expertise of more than 60 organisations including higher education providers and sector agencies, various public services and a number of private sector organisations.
Universities UK is committed to addressing the recommendations in the Diamond review. Following engagement with stakeholders an implementation plan has been developed, which identifies a number of key projects and activities for the sector to take forward.
The Diamond review and the implementation plan for the recommendations are both available on this site. Please click on the links below:
Download Efficiency and effectiveness in higher education (the Diamond review).
Download the implementation plan.
Presentations from the Efficiency in higher education conference are also available online.
For further details, please contact Jamie.arrowsmith@universitiesuk.ac.uk