The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE)
By Lloyd Smith
The education process in the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe have always been interesting to me. I lived in France many moons ago for a year as an exchange student, and being in the French school system I noticed markedly differences. The UK is similar. Both have stringent testing qualification requirements students must meet to move on to college. Not everyone has the chances as we Americans enjoy, but the UK has issues that require help, assistance, and research from entities like LFHE.
LFHE focuses their energies in the higher education college and university system of the empire as a dedication to the support and research-based information. This energy infusion helps to develop better leadership, management and governance within the higher education system. Like our nonprofit system in the US, the LFHE has to be approved, or “guaranteed”, and registered in the areas they serve. The LFHE is registered as a limited guaranteed company by the Parliament in England and Wales. A not-for-profit in the UK has to complete their nonprofit status by registration as a legitimate charity within their service area, and be approved. Their system is a little more intense that ours, but the nonprofit establishment rules and regulation in the US are nothing to laugh about. After all approvals were accepted and registered the LFHE now enjoys a lofty status as a leader in higher education.
They have a unique structure within their organization and scope of work. The LFHE operates under the direct guidance of a board of trustees. These trustees are responsible for all major issues in higher education, such as strategy, finance, and employment. The board members are appointed to the post, which I would think would make them very political post. The appointments are facilitated through direct, open competition. Once appointed the trustees represent the higher education sector in their registered area. This is a unique approach to higher education governance, but not unlike our TBR and UT systems; including the oversight of THEC.
LFHE has set up within its organization a Higher Education Academy, set up to support the increased quality of teaching, management and leader skills, and student experience, which enhances the system as a whole. It is interesting that the foundation uses “student experience” as an identifier of the varied services to the students, like remediation, articulation, graduation, retention, and financial issues. It sets a tone of refinement in their quest to improve the higher education system as a whole in England and Wales. The registered countries in the consortia within the UK are supported little by the government; a mere 20 percent. The other 80 percent of their funding comes from programs, events and membership fees.
Along with differing funding mechanisms, the Leadership Foundation (LFHE) does not have a brick-and-mortar headquarters. The foundation goes to the source of all issues, and sets up camp until there is some resolution. Their hiring practices are stringent and highly selective, which affords them well experienced, credentialed staff and associates. This controls their overhead and reduces costs, which leaves the government with little funding responsibilities. I think a profound look into their system could shed light on the costs disease in the US.
Information on the LFHE is retrieved from: http://www. lfhe.ac.uk
