Transforming Higher Education: Lessons From The Academies Programme - Final Thoughts

The Academies Programme's transformation from 200 institutions in 2010 to circa 11,600 today highlights interesting learnings about large-scale educational reform for the higher education sector.

However, we need to bear in mind that one of the key differences between MATs and MUTs is that the former was borne out of a dedicated policy (and financial) push from the DfE.

Higher education now stands at a crossroads and, with the consideration of additional public funding conspicuous by its absence, the Academies Programme may provide an interesting roadmap and the MAT/MUT model an opportunity to achieve sustainable efficiencies.

Technically, the establishment of a MUT amounts to a merger of the participating universities and, as such, is subject to all the challenges associated with mergers and as noted above, university operating models will also be tied to their individual structures and strategic priorities.