As the UK Government prepared in mid-2019 to release the Augur review of post-18 education and funding, a small university, highly dependent on undergraduate student fee income, faced a grave threat to its financial viability and mission sustainability. The university sought to position itself to seize the opportunities presented by the possible financial shock with bold and creative thinking, and so commissioned Nous to explore options for a merger or strategic partnership.
The financial shock arrived – not through a post-Augur fee reduction, but in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nous delivered a rapid, discrete study, designed to preserve our client’s anonymity and protect staff and students from concern or disruption. We:
Nous produced a discrete, tractable set of merger and partnership options and recommendations; and concrete, carefully sequenced actions for the executive and council to take them forward. The university is equipped to confidently initiate structured, informed discussions with potential partners.