The University of Buckingham joins Independent Higher Education

The University of Buckingham has joined Independent Higher Education (IHE), the UK membership organisation and national representative body for independent providers of higher education, professional training and pathways.

Who are Independent Higher Education?

Members of IHE comprise a diverse group of institutions in the UK’s higher education sector, who share values of flexibility, innovation, student focus and collaboration. Aiming to support, advise and promote independent providers of higher education, the IHE offers several membership benefits.

These include representation amongst cross-sector and Government standing committees, expert guidance on policy and regulation, and networking opportunities within a range of events, forums and professional networks.

What will the benefits be to joining Independent Higher Education?

As a member of the IHE, The University of Buckingham maintains an independent approach, but joins a community who are highly responsive to the changing needs of learners, employers, professional bodies and collaborative organisations.

Speaking on joining IHE, Registrar, Chris Payne said: “Joining IHE comes at an opportune time for us as an institution. The University has just launched its Strategic Plan 2023-2028, with our foundational values of academic freedom, independence, innovation and entrepreneurship right at its heart. We are aligned with IHE’s commitment to flexibility, innovation, student focus and collaboration and look forward to working with other independent providers in embracing our shared dedication to the student experience”.

IHE Chief Executive, Alex Proudfoot, said:

“At IHE we believe in the transformational power of higher education. We also believe that sustaining this power over time requires higher education itself to embrace transformation, and its leaders to be restless in their pursuit of innovation, excellence, and challenging the status quo.

“The University of Buckingham has been an inspiration to so many in the independent sector, embracing change and pioneering new approaches to learning, while always preserving that which it values most fundamentally: its independence and its academic freedom. The UK is the richer for their continued success, and we are thrilled to welcome them home to Independent Higher Education.”