H.E.R.O. (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK)
Encyclopedia
Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK (HERO) is the official gateway website to the UK higher education system and also serves as an introduction to research organisations and bodies within the UK.
The idea of a single site to promote the UK higher education system was discussed by stakeholders in the UK higher education sector resulting in the idea of a "UK HE Mall" website.
The case for the site being that although many people perceive that the UK has a higher education "system", it is in fact made up of autonomous bodies who may or may not receive some public funding.
The UK HE Mall proposal was developed into the HERO website, launched in November 2000, which is produced by HERO Ltd, an internet publishing company based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
HERO aims to be:
The site does not carry advertising and is grant funded by the main UK higher education funding councils (The Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE), The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
(HEFCW), The Scottish Funding Council
(SFC) and the Department for Employment and Learning
(DEL) in Northern Ireland
, alongside Guild HE (Formerly SCOP), the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and Universities UK
(UUK).
The UK's research councils were former stakeholders in the site but now produce their own Research Councils UK (RCUK) site. The Training and Development Agency for Schools and Graduate Prospects are also former stakeholders.
HERO Ltd has also worked for other sector bodies including the Aimhigher
and Teaching Quality Information (TQi) websites.
As of November 2010, the site is closed.
The idea of a single site to promote the UK higher education system was discussed by stakeholders in the UK higher education sector resulting in the idea of a "UK HE Mall" website.
The case for the site being that although many people perceive that the UK has a higher education "system", it is in fact made up of autonomous bodies who may or may not receive some public funding.
The UK HE Mall proposal was developed into the HERO website, launched in November 2000, which is produced by HERO Ltd, an internet publishing company based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
HERO aims to be:
- the primary internet portal for academic research and higher education in the UK;
- the natural entry point for enquiries about higher education in the UK for the widest possible range of customers;
- a showcase for the diversity and quality of research and higher education in the UK.
The site does not carry advertising and is grant funded by the main UK higher education funding councils (The Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
(HEFCE), The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, and anintermediary body between the Welsh Assembly Government and the higher education sector in Wales.- HEFCW business :...
(HEFCW), The Scottish Funding Council
Scottish Funding Council
The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, more commonly known as the Scottish Funding Council , is the body in Scotland that distributes funding from the Scottish Government to the country's colleges and universities...
(SFC) and the Department for Employment and Learning
Department for Employment and Learning
The Department for Employment and Learning , formerly the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment , is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive...
(DEL) in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, alongside Guild HE (Formerly SCOP), the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and Universities UK
Universities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
(UUK).
The UK's research councils were former stakeholders in the site but now produce their own Research Councils UK (RCUK) site. The Training and Development Agency for Schools and Graduate Prospects are also former stakeholders.
HERO Ltd has also worked for other sector bodies including the Aimhigher
Aimhigher
Aimhigher is an umbrella term to describe initiatives aimed at widening participation in UK higher education, particularly among students from non-traditional backgrounds, minority groups and disabled persons....
and Teaching Quality Information (TQi) websites.
As of November 2010, the site is closed.