1996 FEBRUARY Education secretary Gillian Shephard announces appointment of a National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing. It will recommend how the shape, structure, size and funding of higher education, including support for students, should develop to meet the UK's needs over the next 20 years.

APRIL Commitee begins work.

JUNE Membership of Scottish Standing Committee announced.

JULY Sir Ron visits Japan to investigate its private university system. A national survey is also launched, to be circulated to more than 1,500 organisations including all further and higher education institutions, to examine the size, shape and funding of the sector.

AUGUST Five working groups are announced: * Economic role of higher education, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Holland.

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* Teaching, quality and standards, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing.

* Information technology, chaired by John Arbuthnott.

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* Research, chaired by Sir Richard Sykes.

* Use of staff and cost-effectiveness, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing.

Two more groups, dealing with funding of HE and student support and the structure and governance of HE will be announced in the autumn.

Working groups invite organisations to tender bids for research contracts.

Sir Ron also visits Australia to examine the deferred graduate tax system, the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, and New Zealand's loans scheme.

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SEPTEMBER Consultation packs for schools and employers scheduled for distribution. Winners of research contracts announced.

AUTUMN TERM Consultation conferences for higher education, employers and students scheduled. More to be held early next year. Research contracts expected to be completed between December and Easter.

1997 MARCH Deadline for submissions.

SUMMER Dearing commitee scheduled to deliver its report.