The period ahead is likely to be a challenging one for many universities and colleges, and various factors will have implications for determining and measuring strategy, including:
A significant underlying factor is that the 18-21 UK age cohort is projected to decline in the next few years, and as a result a number of institutions may find it harder to fill places, raising numerous strategic issues. For a useful discussion of some of the implications see 'Demand for Higher Education to 2020 and Beyond' produced by the Higher Education Policy Institute. Universities UK has also published a research report on the future size and shape of higher education in the UK.
A more immediate issue is that of fees and funding. In England the review of higher education funding and student finance Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education in England, and the subsequent white paper Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System are likely to have a significant impact on the HE sector.
As the section on international strategy makes clear, there are a number of potentially conflicting trends which may make the future international market for higher education highly volatile. Two useful source of information are:
Pressures from declining demand and financial challenges are likely to see mergers and other forms of cooperation between institutions becoming more commonplace, raising major issues for governing bodies.