Agenda

• Chair: Sir Nigel Carrington, Chair of the Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce, Universities UK

Following Sir Nigel's introduction, we will hear a video message from the Minister for Skills.

• The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills

To reflect on Baroness Smith's video, our Chief Executive, Vivienne Stern MBE will respond.

• Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK

Sir Nigel and Vivienne will set out the aims of the day and provide an update on the progress, and aspirations of UUK’s Transformation and Efficiency Programme.

• Professor Malcolm Press CBE, President, Universities UK, and Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University 

Professor Malcolm Press will share insights from his experiences of leading strategic, sustainable change and realising opportunities for efficiency at Manchester Metropolitan University.

• Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor and CEO, University of Greenwich
• Thomas Estermann, Director, Governance, Funding and Public Policy Development, European University Association (EUA)
• Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive, Association of Colleges
• Matt Atkinson, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal 

This session explores what higher education can learn from collaboration across the wider education sector and those areas where universities are distinctly different. It will reflect on how collaboration and partnerships are evolving, and what this may mean for the future shape of the sector.
 

• Andrea Turley, Partner, Education, KPMG
• Sam Sanders, Partner, Head of Education, KPMG

Foster & Bloomsbury

• Chair: Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of East London 
• Professor Frances Bowen, Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex
• Nicola de Iongh, Chair, Committee of University Chairs (CUC)
• Damien Ashford, Partner, PWC
• Dr Helen Galbraith, Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, University of Chester

This session explores how institutions are responding to sustained financial pressure in the context of the review of the code of governance, moving beyond short-term fixes towards long-term sustainability. Drawing on experience from across higher education, speakers will share practical insights into turnaround strategies, governance and the difficult decisions required to secure institutional resilience. 
 

UUK Boardroom (streamed online)

• Chair: Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Wrexham University
• Professor Paul Boyle CBE, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University
•  Liam Earney, Managing Director, Higher Education and Research, Jisc
• Emma Woodcock, Chair, UCISA, and Chief Information Officer, York St John University 

This session will offer participants chance to consider digital maturity across the sector.  We will hear from colleagues in national roles and leading transformational projects in higher education institutions about how collaboration and digital shared service models can deliver efficiencies and improved student and staff experience.  The discussion will offer chance to explore what has worked in practice, the enablers of successful change, and how institutions can realise tangible benefits. 
 

Woburn Hall (streamed online)

• Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education, Shakespeare Martineau
• Dr Paul Greatrix, Director of Higher Education Consultancy, Shakespeare Martineau
• Andrew Smith, Partner, Shakespeare Martineau

Every institution is looking to find new and creative approaches to collaborative activity. From franchises to TNE and from spin-outs to shared services this session will explore some of the risks, benefits and challenges. There are plenty of opportunities to consider and potential for new income streams but also a range of issues to consider in navigating this uncertain terrain.

Foster & Bloomsbury (streamed online)

• Chair: Dame Clare Marchant DBE,  Vice-Chancellor and CEO, University of Gloucestershire
• Joel Arber, Group Chief Executive Officer, Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS)
• Rebecca Baxter, Chair, UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC), and Managing Director, North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC)
• Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Kent

This session examines how shared services can drive efficiency and improvements in the quality of services and offer a starting point for deeper partnerships over time.  Speakers will share their experience of the benefits to be realised and the pitfalls to avoid.

UUK Boardroom

• Chair: Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews
• Sarah Cowan, Head of Higher Education, Research and Skills Policy, The British Academy  
• Professor Melanie Gray, Joint Vice-Chancellor, University for the Creative Arts
• Nicola Holmes, Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve
   

Subjects such as modern foreign languages, creative arts and chemistry are vital to a thriving UK economy, but rising costs of delivery and reduced student numbers place them at risk. Using SHAPE subjects as the lens for a broader discussion on vulnerable disciplines, panel members and participants will debate when, and how, universities, regulators and partners could work together to protect provision.  
 

Woburn Hall (streamed online)

A panel discussion exploring the case for a common approach to benchmarking across the higher education sector.

• Chair: Helen Dove, Principal Consultant, Etio
• Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK
• Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director, The Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA)
• Khadir Meer, Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Operations, SOAS, University of London
• Professor Huw Morris, Honorary Professor of Tertiary Education, University College London

Incremental cost-cutting is not sufficient to meet the sector’s evolving challenges. What’s needed is system-level transformation, underpinned by deeper collaboration across the sector. The session will explore one of the key opportunities identified by the Universities UK Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce report, the need to adopt a common approach to assessing efficiency and benchmarking costs.

The opportunity, and the challenge, is what will it take to move from retrospective, partial insight to a shared, rigorous and timely understanding of cost, performance and efficiency across the sector? And crucially, what value is unlocked once we get it right?

Drawing upon existing models, we explore the case for a national benchmark, consider the availability and usefulness of publicly available data, the barriers that exist and how these can be overcome and what success would look like for the sector.

Foyer

• Liam Earney, Managing Director, Higher Education and Research, Jisc
• Sarah Knight, Director of Digital Leadership and Transformation, Jisc
• Paola Marchionni, Head of engagement (digital transformation), Jisc

Digital transformation is a core strategic issue for university boards and executive teams, playing a critical role in shaping institutional efficiency, risk and long term resilience in an increasingly international operating environment. 

This session focuses on the questions exec teams and boards should be asking to govern digital transformation effectively. At this session, Jisc is launching a new digital maturity assessment for exec leaders to benchmark their capability against the sector position to better inform investment decisions - an action from the UUK Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce report.  This draws on Jisc’s framework and maturity model for digital transformation and the insights gathered from higher education providers use of these materials over the past 3 years. 

It will also introduce Jisc's new guidance for university leaders on Delivering digital equity in transnational education (TNE) and Cyber-secure travel to high-risk countries, highlighting critical considerations for overseas campuses, partnerships and online delivery.
 

• Chair: Sir Nigel Carrington, Chair of the Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce, Universities UK

• The Rt Hon Lord Patrick Vallance of Balham KCB, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear

• Chair: Professor George Talbot, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Knowledge Exchange) and Dean of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University
• Professor Stephen Roper, Director, Enterprise Research Centre, and Co-Director, Innovation and Research Caucus, Warwick Business School
• Dr Sophie Collet, Executive Director, Research, Enterprise and Innovation, University of Bristol 

This session will focus on research as a core driver of institutional sustainability, national growth, and global competitiveness in the context of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. Drawing on new evidence and policy perspectives, the session will explore how universities can transform research and innovation systems while sustaining excellence and impact and protecting academic freedom.
 

•    Chair: Sir Nigel Carrington, Chair of the Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce, Universities UK