Published date: 23 November 2023

Closed early engagement


Closing date: 20 December 2023

Contract summary

Industry

  • Business and management consultancy and related services - 79400000

  • Miscellaneous business and business-related services - 79900000

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Procurement reference

project_8769

Published date

23 November 2023

Closing date

20 December 2023

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION:
ALTERNATIVE STUDENT FINANCE (ASF) SHARIA
SUPERVISORY BOARD SECRETARIAT

In April 2014, the DfE launched a consultation which sought views on the acceptability of a Sharia-compliant alternative student finance (ASF) product. Following a positive response to the proposal, the Government committed to the introduction of an ASF product, using the Islamic finance principle of 'Takaful' to provide a form of group based mutual support.

The Government has since legislated to make a system of ASF possible, when the power for this was taken in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and has worked with specialist advisers on the development of an ASF model.

Alongside this, the Government has been reforming the student finance system to put it on a sustainable footing for the long term and is introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), that will significantly change the ways students can access learning and financial support. In March 2023, as part of the LLE consultation response, the DfE committed to delivering ASF as soon as possible after the introduction of the LLE.

In August 2023, the Student Loans Company (SLC) started work on understanding the timescales for delivering an ASF product and, to support this, are being provided with specialist advice by Islamic finance experts.

Before launch, the ASF product will need to pass a comprehensive Sharia assurance process, in line with Islamic finance industry norms.

The DfE is seeking to appoint a Sharia secretariat who will oversee this process.

For more details, please refer to the EOI document enclosed. Pleaser respond to the EOI via the jaggaer link: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=57364

More information

Attachments

Links

About the buyer

Contact name

Suki Chan

Address

Piccadilly Gate,Store Street
MANCHESTER
M12WD
England

Telephone

07920 560 128

Email

suki.chan@education.gov.uk