Education Investor Summit
The New Education Landscape
17 April 2012 - The Cumberland Hotel, London
9.00 Registration and continental breakfast
9.20 Introduction and welcome
9.30 Opening remarks and policy update
10.00 Opportunities for growth through partnerships
Falling government funding will require schools, colleges and universities to seek partnerships with businesses and other educational institutions to diversify their income streams. This session will consider:
What are the legal issues and ramifications of such public-private partnerships?
What role does the private sector have to play in raising standards and transforming UK education?
What must educational institutions do to attract interest and investment from the private sector, and will the government deliver on its promise of reducing red tape?
Is there a role for private equity firms to invest in education projects in the UK?
10.50 Refreshments (exhibition area)
11.10 Delivering value in a time of austerity
Faced with limited funding, educational institutions must explore ways of minimising costs by streamlining their administrative and operational processes. This session will consider:
How can savings be achieved through cloud computing, shared services and benchmarking the cost of services across institutions?
What are realities and practicalities of shared services in terms of VAT exemption measures, data sharing, and operational considerations?
Can better procurement help cut institutions’ costs, and are collaborative procurement frameworks the way forward?
12.00 The digital revolution, and what it means for education
Improvements in technology, and the continued popularity of mobile reading devices, are transforming the way that content is distributed, both in and out of the classroom. This session will consider:
How quickly can institutions and support services adapt to these changes?
Where are the growth opportunities for technology, content or publishing firms?
What new models and efficiencies will result from the proliferation of ICT, e-books, e-learning apps, games-based learning, and so on?
What steps can the industry take to ensure that educational institutions maximise their technology investments?
Would a shared ICT source be practical way of overcoming the lack of funding for technology in UK schools?
12.50 Lunch (exhibition area)
CHOICE OF SESSIONS
|
2.10 The future of schools
The academies programme and the constrained funding environment means that both private and state schools are facing one of the most rapid periods of change in their history. This session will consider:
- What are the risks and opportunities of the private sector getting involved in state school education?
- Are for-profit schools the best hope of providing quality education, now that local authority control and support services are being reduced?
- Is there a limit to what the private sector can do? Is the model sustainable for the UK education system?
- What mechanisms have been put in place to fill the void of local education authority support, particularly relating to financial supervision?
- What must academies do to attract independent school sponsorship?
|
2.10 Improving performance in the new higher education environment
Rising tuition fees will create a more demanding consumer base. This session will ask:
- How can universities and colleges deliver academic excellence and offer value to students?
- How can UK higher education remain internationally competitive following the new funding arrangements and changes to immigration laws?
- How can universities, banks and third parties work together to bridge the resulting funding gaps?
- Does the added value gained from establishing an overseas presence supersede the risks involved?
- What incentives from emerging economies are available to UK universities that are looking to grow their student base and global reputations?
|
|
3.10 Refreshments (exhibition area)
|
|
3.40 New funding opportunities for the education estate
Public spending cuts mean that educational institutions must look at innovative ways of boosting revenues. Partnerships with the private sector to offer good facilities are critical to remaining competitive. This session will consider:
- How can universities and colleges optimise their resources to deliver more sustainable learning spaces?
- What financing models exist for local authorities, education trusts, and charitable trusts to fund their school building projects?
- What are the risks and benefits of rationalising surplus government properties into productive education estates?
|
3.40 Challenges and growth opportunities in education publishing
The publishing industry is facing major disruptions from the rise of online content. This session will consider:
- How has technology disrupted the education content market, and what is the future outlook for education publishing?
- Can there be convergence between technology, content developers and publishers?
- What national and international opportunities exist for publishers in the creation of high quality e-resources and content services?
|
|
4.10 Investing in vocational and further education
A highly skilled labour force is vital to an economy. This session will consider:
- What needs to be done to ensure that The Youth Contract training scheme is successful, in light of current market uncertainties?
- Which HE / FE / private provider collaborations have yielded efficiencies and opportunities?
- What investment opportunities exist for the private sector in vocational and further education?
- How can businesses collaborate with this sector to ensure that their training needs are met?
|
|
4.40 Event summary, closing remarks and outlook for the future
|
|
5.00 Event conclusion
|