The Delivery Partnership is a UK-wide, higher education sector-led, partnership of different education stakeholders (including key admission groups within the HE sector):
- Vice-Chancellors and representatives from Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS),
- Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA)
- Association of Heads of University Administrators (AHUA),
- National Union of Students (NUS),
- Further Education, schools, 6th form colleges, awarding bodies,
- Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS),
- Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and Department for Education and Learning Northern Ireland (DELNI) among others.
It was established in autumn 2006 to implement reforms to the higher education applications process following the Government's response to the DfES-led Consultation on Improving the Higher Education Applications Process in May 2006.
These reforms will improve the HE applications system by enhancing the provision of information for both applicants and universities in the interests of increasing transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. This will be achieved via a two-stage process of reform:
- i. Changes to the current HE applications process by 2008-09
- ii. A review in 2010/11 with a view to considering further the implementation of a Post Qualification Application (PQA) system from 2012.
The Delivery Partnership has already begun work to implement some of the recommendations. Of particular interest to potential applicants and institutions will be the change to the number of applicant choices from 6 to 5 which will necessitate changes to systems by UCAS and HEIs.
Universities UK and GuildHE provide secretariat support to the partnership. Further information on the Delivery Partnership is available from Fiona Waye, Universities UK fiona.waye@UniversitiesUK.ac.uk or 020 7419 5469.
Delivery Partnership Group Membership
Delivery Partnership Steering Group Membership
Art & Design Working Group Membership
Entry Profiles Working Group Membership
International Reference Group Membership
Timings and Adjustments Working Group Membership
Latest Progress Reports from the Delivery Partnership
Progress Report 9 - March 2009 - provides an update on developments arising from the Delivery Partnership, specifically
- provision of feedback to applications;
- entry via non A-level qualifications;
- The Adjustment Period;
- Simplification of the art and design process;
- summary of an impact assessment of the key changes to the application process, prepared by UCAS
Older Progress Reports are available on the Progress Reports page.
Action Plans
Action Plan 2008
Action Plan 2009
Action Plan 2010