Acronyms

Below is a list of the most commonly used acronyms in HE with website links where relevant.

CATS: Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme

DCSF: Department for Children, Schools and Families. Web: www.dcsf.gov.uk

DHFETE: Department for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Northern Ireland). Web: www.nics.gov.uk

DIUS: Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Web: www.dius.gov.uk

EFL: English as a Foreign Language

ESIB: National Union of Students in Europe. Web: www.esib.org

ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council. Web: www.esrc.ac.uk

FDS: First Destination Survey

FE: Further Education

FTE: Full Time Equivalent

GNVQ: General National Vocational Qualification

HE: Higher Education

HEFCE: Higher Education Funding Council for England. Web: www.hefce.ac.uk

HEFCW: Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. Web: www.wfc.ac.uk

HEI: Higher Education Institution

HERO: Higher Education and Research Opportunities (HE portal). Web: www.hero.ac.uk

HESA: Higher Education Statistics Agency. Web: www.hesa.ac.uk

HNC/D: Higher National Certificate/Diploma

ILT: Institute for Learning and Teaching

IT: Information Technology

LEA: Local Education Authority

LSC: Learning and Skills Council. Web: www.lsc.gov.uk

NARIC: National Recognition Information Centre. Web: www.naric.org.uk

NDPB: Non-departmental public body - otherwise known as ‘quangos’

NIACE: National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education. Web: www.niace.org.uk

NIHEC: Northern Ireland Higher Education Council. Web: www.nihec.ac.uk

NUS: National Union of Students. Web: www.nusonline.co.uk

OECD: Organisation for Economic co-operation and Development

OU: Open University. Web: www.open.ac.uk

PI: Performance Indicator

QAA: Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Web: www.qaa.ac.uk

QCA: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Web: www.qca.org.uk

RIA: Regulatory Impact Assessment

SHEFC: Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. Web: www.shefc.ac.uk

UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Web: www.ucas.ac.uk

UfI: University for Industry – brand name of learning materials is learndirect. Web: www.ufi.com

UKCOSA: United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs. Web: www.ukcosa.org.uk

UUK: Universities UK (formerly CVCP). Web: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk