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1994 Group

British research university group (1994–2013)


British research university group (1994–2013)

FieldValue
name1994 Group
image1994 Group.svg
formation1994
dissolved2013
typeAssociation of UK universities
locationUnited Kingdom
membership11
leader_titleChair of the Board
leader_nameProfessor Michael Farthing
key_peopleExecutive Director:
Alex Bols
website

Alex Bols

The 1994 Group was a coalition of smaller research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom, founded in 1994 to defend these universities' interests following the creation of the Russell Group by larger research-intensive universities earlier that year. The 1994 Group originally represented seventeen universities, rising to nineteen, and then dropping to eleven. The group started to falter in 2012, when a number of high performing members left to join the Russell Group. The 1994 Group ultimately dissolved in November 2013.

Role

The group sought "to represent the views of its members on the current state and the future of higher education through discussions with the government, funding bodies, and other higher education interest groups" and "[made] its views known through its research publications and in the media". University Alliance, million+, GuildHE and the Russell Group were its fellow university membership groups across the UK higher education sector.

Members at time of dissolution

InstitutionLocationEstablishedGained university statusTotal number of studentsResearch funding (£Thousand)
Birkbeck, University of LondonLondon1823192019,0209,985
University of East AngliaNorwich1963196319,58516,482
University of EssexColchester1964196411,6909,967
Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondon189119047,6158,539
Institute of Education, University of LondonLondon190219327,2157,734
University of LancasterLancaster1964196412,69518,640
University of LeicesterLeicester1921195716,16022,225
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough1909196617,82522,398
Royal Holloway, University of LondonEgham184919007,62013,699
SOAS, University of LondonLondon191619164,5257,238
University of SussexBrighton1961196112,41516,196

Historical membership

The following table shows the membership of the group since its formation in 1994.

InstitutionLocationYear joinedYear left
University of BathBath19942012
Birkbeck, University of LondonLondon1994
Durham UniversityDurham19942012
University of East AngliaNorwich1994
University of EssexWivenhoe (Essex)1994
University of ExeterExeter19942012
Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondon1994
Institute of Education, University of LondonLondontitle=Institute of Education joins 1994 Groupurl=http://www.ioe.ac.uk/newsEvents/28757.htmlaccess-date=23 September 2013}}
University of LancasterLancaster1994
University of LeicesterLeicestertitle=Four more universities join 1994 groupurl=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/jun/13/highereducation.research1access-date=23 September 2013newspaper=The Guardian}}
London School of EconomicsLondon19942006
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough2006
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST)Manchester19942004
Queen Mary, University of LondonLondon20062012
University of ReadingReading19942013
Royal Holloway, University of LondonEgham1994
University of St AndrewsSt Andrews19942012
SOAS, University of LondonLondon2006
University of SurreyGuildford19942012
University of SussexBrighton1994
University of WarwickCoventry19942008
University of YorkYork19942012

The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), which merged with the Victoria University of Manchester to form the University of Manchester, was a member of the 1994 Group until October 2004. The London School of Economics was also a member until 2006, and the University of Warwick until July 2008. Durham University, University of Exeter, Queen Mary, University of London and University of York left the 1994 group in 2012. All have now joined the Russell Group. In October, the University of St Andrews and University of Bath withdrew from membership of the group. The University of Surrey also announced its intention to leave the group on 6 November 2012. On 19 December 2012 the University of Reading announced that it would cease to participate in the group, although its membership formally ended in July 2013.

1994 Group position in league tables

University*ARWU*
(2013, World)*QS*
(2013/14, World)*THE*
(2013/14, World)*Complete*
(2014, National)*The Guardian*
(2014, National)*Times/Sunday Times*
(2014, National)
Birkbeck, University of London374201–225
University of East Anglia201–300229174201717
University of Essex401–500338251–275396339
Goldsmiths, University of London461–470515848
Institute of Education, University of London
University of Lancaster301–400156137111112
University of Leicester201–300202161161314
Loughborough University244351–400141421
Royal Holloway, University of London265102303828
School of Oriental and African Studies337332224
University of Sussex101–150193121315032

Governance and management structure

The 1994 Group was headed by a board made up of the heads of member institutions. The board met formally five times a year. In addition, an annual residential conference took place in the summer where longer-term strategic issues were discussed. The board had responsibility for determining strategy and agreeing all policy papers, position statements and consultation responses, and responsibility for the governance of all joint activity.

The chair was elected by board members for a three-year term of office. Professor Michael Farthing, vice-chancellor of University of Sussex, was elected chair in 2011. The chair was the national spokesperson for the group and represented its interests where a senior representative of the group was required. The chair had overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the communication strategy on behalf of the board. Previous chairs included: 1997-2000 Sir Ivor Crewe (Essex); 2000-03 Alisdair Smith (Sussex); 2003-06 Sir David Eastwood (UEA); 2006-09 Sir Steve Smith (Exeter); 2009-12 Paul Wellings CBE (Lancaster); 2012- close Michael Farthing (Sussex).

The chair was assisted by a Chair's Advisory Group (CAG) elected from the board for a three-year period of office (initial membership was staggered to ensure a rolling change of membership). The CAG met on four occasions each year. CAG members had a general brief for assisting the chair in the development of all areas of group policy (including management of the relationship with the Policy Groups). The CAG had a central role in the development of relationships with government, funding bodies, and HE stakeholder organisations.

Policy groups

The 1994 Group had three high-level Policy Groups that met three times a year to discuss longer-term strategy and policy issues. The 1994 Group's Student Experience Policy Group aimed to identify the key issues surrounding student experience in the HE sector, defining the 1994 Group's own position in this context, and identifying potential areas for research and activity in the future. The Research and Enterprise Policy Group aimed to strengthen the research carried out by its members by investigating funding and other issues. The Strategic Planning and Resources Policy Group developed policies and guidelines in response legislative and financial changes affecting the group's members.

References

References

  1. (15 March 2013). "Russell Group 'a more natural fit'". THE.
  2. (8 November 2013). "1994 Group disbands". THE.
  3. "Statement from the Board of the 1994 Group". 1994 Group.
  4. "1994 Group website". 1994 Group.
  5. "Institute of Education joins 1994 Group".
  6. "Four more universities join 1994 group". The Guardian.
  7. "Warwick University – V-c explains exit from 1994 Group".
  8. "Russell Group: News and Policy Statements – 2012 – Russell Group of universities agrees to expand".
  9. "University of Bath withdraws from 1994 Group".
  10. "University of Surrey announces it is to leave 1994 Group".
  11. (19 December 2012). "1994 Group leaks yet another member". THE.
  12. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
  13. "QS World University Rankings 2013/14". Quacquarelli Symonds.
  14. "THE World University Rankings 2013–2014". THE.
  15. "University League Table 2014". The Complete University Guide.
  16. (3 June 2013). "University guide 2014: University league table". The Guardian.
  17. "The Times and Sunday Times University League Tables 2014". Times Newspapers.
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