Despite the bedding in of the fees regime and a majority government, uncertainty and risk aversion has increased. As universities become less dependent on public funding and subject to increasing student expectations, how will this mood impact innovation and growth?

1. STUDENT
RECRUITMENT
want to grow their international
student numbers but 56%
believe government’s visa policy
will have a negative impact,
up from 33% in 2014
want to increase undergraduate
numbers, 28% do not – a reflection
of the decreasing demographics
90%
44% 41%
believe the government’s impending
removal of Student Numbers
Control’s will have a positive impact
for
higher education
institutions
Students are
increasingly viewing themselves
as consumers and expect return
on their investment in the form
of academic quality, employability
and the facilities.
see it as a priority
PRIO RITIES
KE
Y
STRATEG
IC
1Enhancing the
student experience
1
Universities are
becoming less reliant
on public funding and are
focusing on cost reduction.
2
Cost reduction
2
Investment in
estates remains high on the list
of priorities, with 94% of those
surveyed viewing it as a strong
or somewhat of a priority.
3
Estate investment
3
90%
see back office cost
sharing a key opportunity
72%
see it as a strong priority
56%
RISK AVERSION
R
45%
believe that it is not a good time
to take risk into the balance sheet
vs
61%
of corporate CFOs
felt credit was
either fairly cheap
or very cheap.
Those expecting
capital expenditure
to significantly increase
has dropped from
76% in 2014
61%
31%
UNCERTAINTY
chance of surpluses
declining in next
12 months
v’s 22% in
private sector
expect
costs
to rise
leading
to:
expect
revenues to
increase
But ...
57%
believe the level of
uncertainty is above normal
vs
100%
of corporate CFOs
72% 72%69%
Reduction
in operating
margins
Decreased
level of cash
Decrease
in hiring
Higher Education Finance Directors Survey
Costs out ... students in
Despite the bedding in of the fees regime and a majority government, uncertainty and risk
aversion has increased. As universities become less dependent on public funding and subject
to increasing student expectations, how will this mood impact innovation and growth?
The HE/FD Survey is based on the views of CFOs and FDs in higher education, and provides
a unique insight into the challenges and priorities for universities. It also provides a
comparison with corporate CFO attitudes, using Deloitte’s CFO Survey.
www.deloitte.co.uk/hefdsurvey
#hefdsurvey