A sectoral review of consultation with students and reporting arrangements on student services expenditure and the student levy was requested by SU Presidents in early 2024. As the HEA is committed to ensuring that the student voice is central to policy and practice development, a working group reporting into the Student Engagement and Teaching and Learning (SETL) Standing Committee of the HEA Board, comprising members from the Board and the sector was established to oversee the review. Seventeen (17) HEIs consisting of designated institutions of higher education under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 and an institution that the HEA works with under Statute and in receipt of public funding were invited to complete an online form in November 2024. The areas examined by the review are as follows:
- Mechanisms for consulting and engaging with students on student levies and student services expenditure.
- Identification of titles associated with a student levy.
- Student cohorts who incur a student levy.
- Transparency and visibility of reporting arrangements.
- Identification of good practice.
A report presenting the findings of the review will be considered by the HEA Board at its meeting in May.