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Q1: What does the model do and why was it developed?

A: The model gives a series of space predictions for individual HEIs. If you want to know more about how and why the model was developed, please look at the SMG report called Drivers of the Size of the HE Estate. If you want to know more about how to use the model, there is a User Guide.

Q2: Does the model tell HEIs how much space they should have?

A: No, it predicts an estate size based on the effect of a given set of drivers and average performance in the sector. It is not normative.

Q3: What drivers are used in the predictions?

A: The main drivers used are income (split down into teaching, research and other income),location, number of sites, central timetabling and space charging.

Q4: How is the effect of third stream income dealt with?

A: It is included in the total institutional income used in the drivers.

Q5: What's the difference between the three space predictions?

A: Prediction 1 is based on the HEI's current use of space management tools (space charging and percentage of teaching space subject to central timetabling) as given in its EMS return. Prediction 2 assumes that all the HEI's teaching space is centrally timetabled and that it has space charging, and Prediction 3 is based on the performance of the top quartile of HEIs in terms of their efficiency in space use.

Q6: Does the model relate to gross or net space?

A: Net internal non-residential as defined in EMS.

Q7: Why doesn't the model relate to gross internal area?

A: This is because it is based on the way that EMS data is collected, and most of the EMS space category definitions refer to net space, e.g. core teaching space and support space.

Q8: Does it cover the residential estate?

A: Not at this stage.

Q9: What is in other support space category?

A: This is because it is based on the way that EMS data is collected, and most of the EMS space category definitions refer to net space, e.g. core teaching space and support space.

Q10: Why don't the space sub-categories in the model add up to the EMS total non-residential NIA?

A: Because the EMS total non-residential NIA also includes categories for "vacant" and "other" space, and these are not included in the model.

Q11: Are grounds and sports pitches included?

A: No, because the model only relates to buildings.

Q12: What about built car parks?

A: They would only be included if they were included in other support in an EMS response.

Q13: In addition to central timetabling and space charging, is it possible to model the effect of increasing levels of utilisation on the total estate size?

A: Not at this stage, as there is not enough data to support the analysis.

Q14: Didn't the model used to include a worksheet on space costs as well?

A: Yes, it did in its original form as the Model of the Affordable Estate. The cost section has been updated and expanded and is now called the Model of Estate Costs. It is available as part of the AUDE Toolkit for a Sustainable Estate

Questions about calculating space needs

Q15: Why didn’t the SMG provide an updated set of space norms for HEIs?

A: It investigated the possibility, but decided that there is too much variation in how HEIs carry out their activities for one single set of norms to be applicable to all institutions. If you want to know more about the SMG’s study, please read the SMG report A Review of Space Norms.

Q16: Did the SMG provide any guidance on how HEIs could set about calculating their space needs?

A: Yes it did. The general approach is described in the SMG report A Review of Space Norms, and a template called the Space Need Indicator Framework was developed to enable HEIs to do their own calculations. This approach has since been developed further as part of the AUDE Toolkit for a Sustainable Estate. There is now a Space Profiles User Guide and a series of Space Assessment Models setting out examples of how to assess the space needs for a range of academic disciplines.

Q17: Do the AUDE tools supersede the SMG approach?

A: They are an evolution of it. They are based on the same general principles, but have been updated to make them more user friendly and to provide links with environmental sustainability measures.

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