The agency is to carry out a consultation exercise for the body, which represents the interests of 16 research-based universities across the UK.
Agency principal consultant Vicky Mulchinock said: ‘Universities face dramatic change with top-up fees because the competition is going to be greater. Students will be more savvy and look at universities’ relationships with employers and their reputations.’
The agency will examine how the body can better communicate with the government and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, as well as promote itself to prospective students.
Mulchinock said: ‘Overseas students tend to choose science and engineering courses more, which are being dropped by UK students, so we need to keep these departments going.’
