Capital funding for directly funded further education colleges: 2013-14

Capital funding for directly funded further education colleges: 2013-14
1. This letter sets out the allocation of capital funding for learning and teaching infrastructure in further education colleges (FECs) funded directly by HEFCE for the financial year 2013-14. No action is required in response.
2. A total of £2 million is available to fund activity undertaken from April 2013 until March 2014. These funds will be paid automatically in three instalments in August 2013, November 2013 and February 2014.
Purpose of the funds
3. These allocations of capital funding are to help raise the quality of higher education (HE) learning and teaching facilities in FECs, to enhance the learning experience of their HE students. We expect colleges to use the funds in ways that will most effectively support their strategy for HE. The funds may be used to contribute towards:
    * investment in equipment used in learning, teaching and e-learning, particularly information technology (IT)-related equipment
    * replacement of premises for learning and teaching
    * refurbishment of existing teaching spaces, particularly involving IT-related enhancements, including improvements to internal IT networks or supporting infrastructure.
4. The funds should be used for HE provision, and may be subject to audit in the normal way. We recognise, however, that it may be neither feasible nor desirable to create ring-fenced boundaries between HE and further education (FE). For example, equipment purchased using these funds may be used by both HE and FE students. We look to colleges to adopt a pragmatic approach, whereby the primary focus of the projects is on HE even if there are links with, and marginal spin-off benefits for, FE.
5. We expect colleges to take account of the need to reduce carbon emissions as well as securing value for money in deciding how these funds are spent. Read more...