be connected newsletter for higher education - January 2021

In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.

22 January 2021

Welcome to be connected our quarterly update for Higher Education Institutions.

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In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.

Legal updates

New year, new-ish state aid rules: the new subsidy control regime

In December the UK and EU reached an agreement in principle with the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Funding bodies must now grapple with the UK’s legal obligations related to state aid/subsidy control emanating from this. Until a formal subsidy regime is put in place in the UK, this could be a complex and challenging exercise. In this briefing note, Alex Kynoch provides a detailed review of the new regime and looks at the new principles a subsidy must comply with.

Lateral flow testing of university students

Guidance on students returning to, and starting higher education, in spring 2021 requires universities to set a clear expectation that all students should access Covid-19 testing. However, following the roll-out of lateral flow testing in secondary schools, the MHRA have refused to approve this method. In this article, health and safety experts Steph McGarry and Daisy May Coster-Hollis look at the consequences of this, and what it might mean for the return to campus.

The KEF (Knowledge Exchange Framework)

Knowledge is power and this is true when we talk about the Knowledge Exchange Framework but why is that and why is KEF so important to the higher education sector?

In this article, commercial specialist Selina Hinchliffe looks at the challenges of the KEF and puts forward two practice points for you to consider.

The new procurement regime

As many of you will be aware, the Cabinet Office published its much-anticipated Green Paper on 15 December 2020. The proposals are out to consultation until 10 March 2021 and we have been running a series of webinars and working groups, looking at the proposals in more detail and particularly how different groups of interested parties are affected. Here are some of the initial thoughts we have collated specifically relevant to the HE sector.

What happens after a death by suicide?

The death of a student for any reason is a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved, from university staff to other students and of course the parents of the young person. In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision in R (on the application of Maughan) v Her Majesty's Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire we focus on what happens after a death by suicide.

Higher education digital transformation

To reflect the rest of the modern world a digital transformation is necessary in many areas of academia. The last 12 months have seen radical changes in how universities deliver learning to students, this online revolution has sadly been forced upon us by a pandemic, but many universities were already on this digital journey.

Since the switch to online learning a common dilemma across universities and other HEIs has been the practicality of uploading recorded lectures online, and the desire to ensure student engagement. In this article we look at how technology can support this, whilst also highlighting some of the risks and legal concerns.

Webinars and online events

Procurement law reform. Watch on-demand now.

As mentioned above, in December, the Government finally launched its Green Paper on its proposals for reform of the public sector procurement system. In this webinar (now available on demand) our specialist procurement team cover the core principles of procurement, look at the proposed procedures and framework and guide you through your legal obligations under the new system.