England
HEFCE asks institutions to provide a copy of their corporate planning statement (CPS) each December. The CPS is the opportunity for institutions to supply HEFCE with a strategic update that provides the context in which to understand the other accountability returns more fully and the progress made towards delivery of the strategic plan and aims for the year ahead.
In this statement HEFCE requests an update on an institution’s activities across the full range of its strategic priorities as identified in its corporate plan, including progress against key performance targets. Information need not be limited to activities funded by HEFCE, but can include any area of strategic importance to the institution. Areas that institutions may wish to cover in the CPS include:
• governance and management
• new academic developments
• research
• estates and sustainable development
• regional activities.
There is no prescribed format for the CPS, although HEFCE expects most returns to be an ‘executive summary’-style review of the year.
HEFCE encourages institutions to think about key opportunities and barriers to success in the year ahead. In doing so, it expects to receive advance notification of any proposals to its Strategic Development Fund, as well as large-scale capital plans.
HEFCE annually requests planning and accountability information from institutions
Scotland
The Financial Memorandum sets out the nature of the relationship between the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the institutions that it funds, including key requirements that the Council, governing bodies and principals of institutions must abide by.
In general, SFC-funded institutions are free to set the format, content and duration of their strategic planning information, though they must share some key documents with the Council.
Wales
Details can be found on the HEFCW web site In particular HEFCW requests institutions to submit annual monitoring statements for various strategic areas, including learning and teaching; widening access and third mission work.
Northern Ireland
DEL largely follows the same methodology as is used by HEFCE in England. The two institutions are asked to follow a higher education strategy.