Higher education (HE) has been one of SQW’s specialist areas since the firm was established in the 1980s. Within this specialism, we work on a diverse range of topics including: research; knowledge exchange; teaching and learning initiatives; employer engagement; widening participation; internationalisation; sustainable development; and expanded and enhanced provision of HE. Our clients include: government departments in the UK and abroad; the UK higher education funding and research councils; HE sector bodies; international agencies; individual universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs).
Our assignments range from feasibility studies and evaluations of public policies and programmes to advising individual HEIs on strategic change and organisation. This latter area of activity continues to grow in importance as HEIs face major funding and structural changes. While many assignments are concerned with developments relating to individual HEIs and the HE sector, the importance of higher education to economic and social regeneration is widely recognised and we also work for a range of other organisations on wider issues. For these, and other, assignments we provide multidisciplinary teams involving colleagues from SQW, with skills and regeneration expertise, and also from Oxford Innovation, our sister division in SQW Group.
Examples of SQW projects
Wolverhampton Science Park Options Assessment
SQW was commissioned by the University of Wolverhampton to review the current role, operation and governance structure of Wolverhampton Science Park and to develop options for the future role of the Park. The assessment included detailed consultation with the Science Park management team and wider stakeholders, a survey of tenant businesses, and a review of good practice in science park development.
Reappraising the Aims of Public Funding for Teaching in a Marketised Environment
This study examined the purpose of public funding for learning and teaching in HE in England. We undertook a desk-based review of alternative views on the purpose of providing public funding for teaching. The report set out the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) position in the context of alternative perceptions.
Summative Evaluation of the Lifelong Learning Networks Programme
SQW was commissioned by the HEFCE to provide a summative evaluation of the Lifelong Learning Networks (LLN) programme. The evaluation included visits and consultations with all LLNs, quantitative analysis of monitoring data, an e-survey of learners, a consultative event and the production of 8 in-depth case studies.
Evaluation of the UK-Russia BRIDGE Programme
SQW was commissioned to evaluate the UK-Russia BRIDGE programme of HE links, for the Joint International Unit of the Departments of Business, Innovation and Skills, Education, and Work and Pensions (BIS, DfE and DWP). The programme facilitated the development of partnerships between universities in the two countries, leading to the creation of joint degree programmes. The research comprised: in-depth interviews with 58 universities in the UK and in Russia; an electronic survey of Russian students; focus groups in Russia; and face to face interviews with key stakeholders in both countries.
Evaluation of Strategic Funding to Develop Graduate Employability
SQW was commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to evaluate its four-year programme of strategic funding to support graduate employability in Scottish higher education institutions. SQW worked with the SFC and the Scottish HE sector to design an evaluation framework with a range of indicators to measure the effectiveness of the programme for individual HEIs and the sector as a whole. We have provided constructive, formative feedback throughout all four years of the programme and a final, summative report on its overall effectiveness and future sustainability will be provided in 2011.
Open Access to Research Outputs
We were commissioned by Research Councils UK to undertake an independent study into open access to research outputs. Loughborough University (LISU) acted as our sub-contractors. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects and impacts of open access on publishing models and institutional repositories in the light of national and international trends and we considered impacts on researchers, research users and publishers. In response to the study, the Chief Executives of the Research Councils agreed that over time the UK Research Councils will support increased open access.
Assessment of Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship in the HE Sector in Wales
SQW was commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) to provide an assessment of the Welsh HE sector’s engagement with the education for sustainable development and global citizenship (ESDGC) agenda. Our approach included: a national and international policy review; a review of relevant strategies and plans submitted by HEIs to HEFCW (including Strategic Plans, Third Mission Strategies, Learning and Teaching Strategies and Estates Strategies) to identify ESDGC activity and progress in HEIs, and develop a baseline of current activity; stakeholder consultations; a presentation to the HE ESDGC network to review our emerging findings; and case study visits to all HEIs in Wales.
Evaluation of Bids to the Higher Education Innovation Fund
The (then) Office of Science and Innovation and the HEFCE provided Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) funds to promote knowledge transfer from the HE sector to businesses and the community. All funds for the second round of HEIF were allocated through a competitive bidding process and 25% of HEIF 3 funds. For both rounds we were commissioned to assess all bids in parallel with assessments by an Advisory Board.
Formative Evaluation of the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) was the first research pooling arrangement supported by the Scottish Funding Councils. It was established in late 2005 to enable the Physics departments of six Scottish universities to collaborate in cohesive research programmes and postgraduate training. We were commissioned to undertake a formative evaluation of SUPA and to develop key performance indicators which could be applied to other pooling arrangements in Scotland.
University of Warwick Regional Impact Study
This study considered University impacts on the West Midlands and sub regions. We analysed the direct and indirect expenditure impacts of the University and its staff and students and also considered a wide range of knowledge transfer activities and the University’s contribution to the community. We were subsequently commissioned to develop further the study results as an input into a planning enquiry examining University proposals for an expansion of the campus.