Report: Too Good To Fail – The Financial Sustainability of Higher Education in England

The Higher Education Commission published its newest report, ‘Too Good To Fail: The Financial Sustainability of Higher Education in England’, on Tuesday 18th November 2014. The report warns reforms to the higher education funding model have created the ‘worst of both worlds’ and have put the sector on a long-term footing that is ‘far from clear’.

The 86-page report follows a nine-month inquiry chaired by Dr Ruth Thompson, former Director General, Higher Education at Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (now part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), and Lord Norton of Louth, Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull.

The inquiry investigated multiple facets of financial sustainability, including what role government, students and institutions should play in funding higher education and how the system can be safegaurded for the future.

Follow the Commission and the inquiry @EduSkillsHE and #SustainHE.

Media coverage

The report has generated enormous media attention and wider stakeholder reaction since its launch on 18th November 2014. Including:

• The Guardian #1
• The Guardian #2 (interview with inquiry co-chair Ruth Thompson)
• The Guardian #3 (opinion piece by John Denham MP)
• BBC News
• BBC News Education Blog
• BBC Newsnight
• BBC Radio 5Live
• BBC Radio 4: The World At One
• Channel 4 News
• ITV News
• The Independent (front page)
• The Daily Telegraph #1
• The Daily Telegraph #2
• The Times
• The Times Higher Education
• The Daily Mail
• International Business Times
• London Loves Business
• Public Sector Executive
• Public Finance
• University World News
• Morning Star
• CitiBlog
• The Conversation
• Gloucestershire Echo
• Statement from Liam Byrne MP, Shadow Universities Minister
• Statement from Million+
• Statement from the SNP