Higher Education Funding Council for England Title To STEM teaching capital funding competition Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions Heads of HEFCE-funded further education colleges Of interest to those responsible for Senior management, Finance, Planning, Estates Reference Circular letter 02/2014 Publication date 28 February 2014 Enquiries to Caroline Charlton, tel 0117 931 7318, e-mail stemcapital@hefce.ac.uk Dear Vice-Chancellor or Principal STEM teaching capital funding allocation 1. On 30 September 2013, the Minister for Universities and Science announced a 200 million fund from Government, to be matched by institutions and other sources, for investment in science and engineering teaching facilities ( 400 million will help science and engineering students get ahead in the global race and encourage more women to study these subjects, http://goo.gl/hu2msb). We received confirmation of this funding in our grant letter in February 2014 (www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2014/news85409.html), and then a separate letter with further instructions about its use (see Annex C at www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2014/cl022014/). 2. This letter sets out our initial proposals for the processes that will underpin distribution of this fund. We do not require a response to this letter, but welcome feedback on our approach, including the criteria proposed for the competitive element. We intend to publish full details of the scheme, and where appropriate invite bids, after our proposals (informed by responses to this letter) are agreed by the HEFCE Board in July. This letter includes a provisional timetable for this process to enable institutions to plan for the development and submission of bids. 3. Capital funding is currently distributed in a variety of ways through both formulaic and specific capital funding initiatives (such as this exercise). We continue to remain committed to allocating some capital funding through formulaic processes, and compliance with the Capital Investment Framework (CIF) is a key factor in this for higher education institutions. In response to Government priorities, however, increasing amounts of capital funding have been allocated competitively. While the criteria and process outlined in this letter relate solely to this fund and do not affect other allocations for capital, we are also considering how we may take a more strategic overview of different capital funding streams in the future. 4. Any feedback or questions should be addressed to stemcapital@hefce.ac.uk by 31 March 2014.
Outline of allocation process 5. The majority of available funding will be allocated through a competitive process which will take place during summer 2014. Institutions with science, technology, engineering and mathematics provision of more than 1,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) UK or European Union (EU) students will be eligible to bid provided they meet the criteria set out below. In order to minimise burden, the remainder of the funding will be distributed formulaically to those institutions with smaller-scale STEM provision. Institutions eligible for a formulaic allocation will have this released following receipt of a satisfactory plan outlining their compliance with key criteria for the funding. 6. We believe that this approach will: uphold the competitive approach requested by Government enable us to distribute funds to support a range of STEM provision, including those institutions most able to meet the Government s aspiration to support the growth of STEM provision underpinning the industrial strategy maximise student opportunity. 7. The 200 million will be divided between the two streams, with 180 million available to institutions with UK and EU taught STEM numbers exceeding 1,000 FTE, and 20 million available formulaically for institutions with fewer than 1,000 FTE, based on the number of such students in 2011-12; this represents the proportion of the overall allocation that would have been devoted to smaller providers if it had all been allocated formulaically and as such is intended to provide opportunities for STEM providers of all kinds. All funding is conditional on the institution providing matched funding from its own funds, or other sources, on at least a 1:1 equivalent basis. Institutions that do not meet this requirement will not be eligible for funding. 8. Bids for up to 5 million of HEFCE funding ( 10 million full project cost) will be considered through the competitive route, although we will be prepared to allow larger bids where this underpins collaboration with other institutions. 9. The investment from the Government is focused on infrastructure to support the teaching of students in STEM subjects. For the purposes of these allocations, we are taking a broad definition of STEM, and have included taught students in physical and biological sciences and engineering, which would include computer science, mathematics and agricultural science. We have used the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) to determine the size of institutional populations in these areas. A full list of the JACS codes considered is included as Annex A of this letter, and Annex B provides a list of institutions that we consider to be eligible to access a formulaic allocation or bid. Use of this STEM capital funding should therefore focus on projects supporting teaching in these areas. 10. While the funding can be used across a range of STEM areas, institutions putting together competitive bids should focus particularly on supporting growth in STEM that is aligned with and supports the Government s industrial strategy ( Using Industrial Strategy to help the UK economy and business compete and grow, http://goo.gl/1t4wtw). 11. The Government has also indicated that use of this funding should include a criterion related to equality and diversity. As we are keen to minimise burden for institutions, we intend when making our assessment in this area to request evidence primarily from existing institutional 2
strategies and statements on equality and diversity for example, equality schemes where they exist, or other formal equality and diversity reports. We also expect, however, to ask institutions to provide further evidence through the teaching capital bidding process of their specific commitment to increasing opportunities for under-represented groups in STEM subjects, with a view to elaborating on their existing statements. 12. Those institutions that are successful will receive the government element of STEM capital funding in financial year 2015-16. It will need to be utilised fully within that financial year, although there is more flexibility around the timing of the use of matched funding. Summary of criteria for the competitive process 13. We propose that those institutions entering the competition should address the following issues in their STEM teaching capital bids, and that there should be an assessment of the relative merits of these submissions. a. Have met the requirements of HEFCE s Capital Investment Framework 2 (CIF2) threshold (higher education institutions only). b. A convincing strategy for growth in UK and EU STEM recruitment, with clear links to the proposed capital investments. c. The impact this growth and the improved facilities will have beyond the institution, including through links with employers and other bodies, through graduate employability and with reference to the relevant elements of the Government s industrial strategy. d. A robust strategy for addressing any issues of equality and diversity in students studying STEM programmes. There is no expectation that the capital investment itself will address this general requirement, which instead should be addressed in this bid through existing institutional statements and strategies relating to equality and diversity, supported by additional relevant evidence. e. A sustainable commitment to STEM provision in the area or areas where the bid is focused, and evidence as to the sustainability of the proposed investment. f. Evidence of the robustness of the plans for this capital investment and their feasibility within the timescale for investment. g. Value for money, including matched funding from the institution s or its partner s funds, which must be at least on a one-to-one basis with any funds bid for in this competition. 14. Institutions eligible to receive a formulaic allocation will be required to submit a short statement or plan which satisfactorily addresses the following areas before funding will be released: ability to match fund the funding allocation feasibility of the plans within the timescale for investment future focus on growth of UK and EU STEM provision commitment to equality and diversity across STEM provision. 15. We will provide fuller details of our expectations in these areas when we publish our full invitation to bid in the summer. In the meantime, if you would like to comment on our proposed approach, including the criteria for bidding, then we welcome your feedback. Comments should be sent to stemcapital@hefce.ac.uk no later than 31 March 2014. 3
Timescale 16. The following table provides our draft timetable to allow institutions to plan the development and submission of their bids: Activity Date Circular letter outlining draft criteria 28 February 2014 Deadline for comments on our proposed approach HEFCE considers responses to letter and develops final proposals 31 March 2014 April to May 2014 HEFCE Board agree proposals July 2014 Publication of invitation to bid and full criteria; publication of formulaic allocations and details of how to release these Deadline for bids and information to release formulaic allocations July 2014 End September 2014 Bids considered by HEFCE and external panel October to November 2014 Successful bids notified December 2014 Funding available Financial year 2015-16 Yours sincerely Professor Madeleine Atkins Chief Executive 4
Annex A: JACS codes to be included in the definition of STEM for STEM teaching capital allocation Anatomy and physiology JACS subject line B1 Anatomy, physiology and pathology STEM Biological sciences Chemistry Computer sciences Earth, marine and environmental sciences JACS principal subject group C Biological sciences, excluding subject lines C6 Sports science and C8 Psychology JACS subject line D7 agricultural sciences, JACS subject line F4 Forensic and archaeological sciences JACS subject lines F1 Chemistry and F2 Materials science JACS principal subject group I Computer sciences (2011-12 onwards), JACS subject lines G4 to G7, G02, G92 JACS subject lines F6 Geology and F7 Ocean sciences and F9 Others in physical sciences Engineering and technology JACS principal subject groups H and J Mathematical sciences Pharmacy and pharmacology Physics JACS principal subject group G (2011-12 onwards), JACS subject lines G1 to G3, G01, G91 JACS subject line B2 Pharmacy, toxicology and pharmacology JACS subject line F3 Physics and F5 astronomy Note: JACS = Joint Academic Coding System; STEM = Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Annex B: Institutions eligible to bid and those eligible for a formulaic allocation Note: FTE = Full-time equivalent; STEM = Science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Institutions with 1,000 or more STEM taught FTE in 2011-12 Higher education institutions Anglia Ruskin University Aston University University of Bath Birkbeck College University of Birmingham Birmingham City University University of Bolton Bournemouth University University of Bradford University of Brighton University of Bristol Brunel University University of Cambridge University of Central Lancashire City University, London Coventry University De Montfort University University of Derby University of Durham University of East Anglia University of East London University of Essex University of Exeter University of Greenwich University of Hertfordshire University of Huddersfield University of Hull Imperial College London Keele University University of Kent King s College London Kingston University Lancaster University University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University University of Leicester University of Liverpool Liverpool John Moores University University College London London Metropolitan University London South Bank University Loughborough University University of Manchester Manchester Metropolitan University Middlesex University University of Newcastle upon Tyne University of Northumbria at Newcastle University of Nottingham Nottingham Trent University Open University University of Oxford Oxford Brookes University University of Plymouth University of Portsmouth Queen Mary, University of London University of Reading Royal Holloway, University of London University of Salford University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University University of Southampton Southampton Solent University Staffordshire University University of Sunderland University of Surrey University of Sussex Teesside University University of Warwick University of the West of England, Bristol University of Westminster University of Wolverhampton University of York 7
Institutions with fewer than 1,000 STEM taught FTE in 2011-12 (excluding institutions with no such provision) Higher education institutions Bath Spa University University of Bedfordshire University College Birmingham Bishop Grosseteste University Buckinghamshire New University Canterbury Christ Church University University of Chester University of Chichester Courtauld Institute of Art Cranfield University University of Cumbria Edge Hill University Institute of Education University of Gloucestershire Goldsmiths College Harper Adams University Leeds Trinity University University of Lincoln Liverpool Hope University Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts University of the Arts London London School of Economics and Political Science Newman University University of Northampton Ravensbourne Roehampton University Rose Bruford College St George s Hospital Medical School University of St Mark and St John St Mary s University College Universities of East Anglia and Essex; Joint Provision at University Campus Suffolk The University of West London University of Winchester University of Worcester York St John University 8
Further education colleges Accrington and Rossendale College Activate Learning Barking and Dagenham College Basingstoke College of Technology City of Bath College Bedford College Birmingham Metropolitan College Bishop Burton College Blackburn College Blackpool and the Fylde College Bolton College Bradford College Bridgwater College City of Bristol College Calderdale College Cambridge Regional College Carlisle College Central College Nottingham Central Sussex College Chesterfield College Chichester College Cornwall College City College Coventry Craven College Croydon College Derby College Derwentside College Doncaster College Dudley College of Technology New College Durham Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College East Berkshire College East Riding College Eastleigh College Exeter College Fareham College Farnborough College of Technology Gateshead College Gloucestershire College Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education 9
Guildford College of Further and Higher Education Halesowen College Havering College of Further and Higher Education Henley College Coventry Herefordshire and Ludlow College Highbury College Hopwood Hall College Hugh Baird College Hull College Kingston College Kirklees College Lakes College West Cumbria Leeds City College Leicester College LeSoCo Lincoln College The City of Liverpool College Loughborough College Macclesfield College The Manchester College Moulton College NCG Newbury College North East Surrey College of Technology North East Worcestershire College North Lindsey College North Warwickshire and Hinckley College North West Kent College of Technology The College of North West London Northbrook College, Sussex Northumberland College New College Nottingham Peterborough Regional College Plymouth College of Art City College Plymouth Richmond-upon-Thames College Riverside College, Halton Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Salford City College Sandwell College The Sheffield College 10
Solihull College Somerset College of Arts and Technology South and City College Birmingham South Devon College The South Downs College South Thames College South Tyneside College South and West Kent College Southampton City College St Helens College Stephenson College Stockport College Stoke-on-Trent College City of Sunderland College Swindon College Tameside College Telford College of Arts and Technology Thanet College Trafford College Tyne Metropolitan College Uxbridge College Wakefield College Walsall College Warwickshire College West Cheshire College West Nottinghamshire College West Suffolk College City of Westminster College Westminster Kingsway College Wigan and Leigh College Wiltshire College Wirral Metropolitan College Worcester College of Technology York College 11