About Us
About GuildHE
GuildHE is an officially recognised representative body for UK higher education, championing distinction and diversity in the sector. In this role, GuildHE works alongside UUK as joint guardians of the sector to advocate for institutions within our memberships and on behalf of the entire system
GuildHE is the most diverse representative body in the UK, serving 66 institutions across the nations and comprising universities, university colleges, further education colleges and specialist institutions. Our members are small and large, rural and urban, practice-based and online, publicly and privately funded– the diversity of our membership enables us a unique and valuable perspective into the challenges and opportunities within and for the sector at any given time. Members are principally focused on vocational and technical higher education and include major providers of professional programmes in education and community service; healthcare; agriculture, food, and the built environment; business and law; and the creative arts.
As a formal representative body, the government, regulators and key sector bodies consult GuildHE on higher education policies during their development and implementation. Because of this, we lead efforts to persuade the government, politicians and official groups on matters of concern to our members and on issues key to ensuring a distinctive, equitable, inclusive and internationally successful higher education sector, articulating its benefits to students, employers and wider society.
Our Vision
For GuildHE to be the advocate of choice for dynamic, diverse and distinctive institutions focused on delivering vocational and technical higher education anywhere in the UK. Our members provide cultural, social and economic value to their towns, cities and regions and are a crucial part of a rich and diverse higher education sector.
By 2025 we want to see our members and the wider HE sector providing the skills, practical research and innovation that industries and individuals need in the changing world of work as well as enriching all our lives by nurturing creativity, critical thinking, scholarship and free expression. They will be outward looking institutions, environmentally responsible and a source of civic pride, helping the community to flourish and connecting their place to the rest of the world. We want students to have real choice of excellent teaching in a diverse range of learning environments whenever in life they want to access it. We believe diversity is the key to excellence. Our vision supports these goals – as an influential advocate for our members we will be constantly arguing for government policies that recognise higher education’s diverse strengths, fund it fairly and sustainably in return for proper scrutiny and hold it to account for its contribution to wide societal values not narrow economic returns.
GuildHE works with
Members
Interacting through high quality political intelligence and briefing; direct support; and through networks that allow members and their staff to share and gain from each other’s experience and to shape and influence national policy positions.
Students
Interacting through consultation and joint work with members, their students, students’ unions and NUS to celebrate and promote student engagement in institutions.
Higher Education Sector
Interacting through governance, co-ownership, and co- regulation. GuildHE nominates member Vice Chancellors and Principals to the governing bodies of the QAA, HESA, AdvanceHE, the OIA, JISC, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit and UCEA.
Government
Interacting through lobbying, research and policy influence; by developing collective policy positions in response to consultations; and through co-regulation and sector reform.
Working with partners in wider society to promote social, cultural, and economic benefits of a diverse higher education sector.