Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how his Department defines value for money in relation to the provision of higher education teaching and research.

The government is committed to ensuring that students and the taxpayer see returns on their investments. We are tackling low-quality provision that results in unsatisfactory outcomes for students, as well as ensuring the sustainability of our world-class higher education (HE) system.

The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 sets out the Office for Students' (OfS) duty to promote value for money in the provision of HE. Accordingly, the department is working with the OfS to introduce a more rigorous and effective quality regime. This includes, for the first time, setting stringent minimum numerical thresholds for student outcomes, on which the OfS is currently consulting, and measures to ensure providers deliver a high-quality academic experience.

In addition, as part of the department’s HE reform agenda, the government is consulting openly on policies that will help to ensure every student can have confidence they are on a high-quality course that will lead to good outcomes, as well as securing a fairer detail for the taxpayer. This includes proposals on student number controls, which are set out in detail in the consultation document, which is accessible here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/higher-education-reform/higher-education-he-reform/supporting_documents/HE_reform_commandpaperprint_version.pdf.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for overseeing HE research. BEIS funding supports a diversity of internationally competitive and highly cited worldwide university research. This research delivers benefits to the economy and society, both nationally and internationally. It also supports a vibrant, collaborative, and open research culture, as well as the development of a skilled research workforce.