Membership of HEPI’s University Partnership Programme – first established in 2009 and open to universities as well as not-for-profit institutions with a stake in the development of a successful HE sector in the UK – has nearly quadrupled as a result of a drive by HEPI’s Trustees to recruit more universities to the partnership. 75 institutions from across the UK (and drawn equally from all the mission groups as well as a sizeable number of the non-aligned institutions) are now HEPI University Partners, signalling their support for the UK’s only independent think tank focusing exclusively on higher education.
Commenting on the expansion of HEPI’s University Partnership Programme, HEPI’s Director, Bahram Bekhradnia, said: “HEPI’s Trustees and Advisory Board are delighted by the strong show of support from our colleagues within higher education. It is highly gratifying that half of all HEFCE-funded institutions as well as a sizeable number from other parts of the UK have chosen to support HEPI in this way. By choosing to become HEPI University Partners they are making an important contribution to securing HEPI’s future for the longer term and ensuring that HEPI can continue to play its important role as a critical friend to the sector. By providing expert policy analysis and advice, HEPI works to create a better informed policy environment for higher education in the UK. And at a time when the UK HE sector is going through a period of profound change and uncertainty, the need for an organisation such as HEPI is perhaps now greater than ever before.
Founded in 2002, HEPI has successfully created an independent funding base derived from a mix of income sources including the HEPI Partnership Programme, the HEPI University Partnership Programme, events sponsorship and conferences as well as international consultancy. By supporting the work of HEPI, our Partners and Sponsors ensure that HEPI can continue its long established tradition of free access to its research including its influential policy analysis and advice.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=422737&c=1