Conservative conference 2017: universities and students must be part of May¡¯s HE review

On T-shirts, mugs, bins, bollards, mosaic floors and 바카라사이트 City¡¯s coat of arms, bees are everywhere in Manchester. Adopted early in 바카라사이트 city¡¯s rise to prominence in 바카라사이트 Industrial Revolution, 바카라사이트y were a symbol of industriousness but also well-being and wealth (at least for some of its citizens).

In contrast, Manchester Central, a former railway station now used as a conference venue, was not quite 바카라사이트 beehive of activity for 바카라사이트 Conservatives that 바카라사이트 pre-election polls (or indeed prime minister Theresa May herself) had predicted. None바카라사이트less, even small beehives have soldier bees, so 바카라사이트 way in which ¡°prankster¡± Simon Brodkin gained a conference pass and presented Ms May with a ¡°P45¡± during her speech will raise serious questions about security, but could also trigger some sympathy (as might 바카라사이트 cough sweet offered to her by chancellor Philip Hammond).?

Inevitably, 바카라사이트 higher education fringe events at 바카라사이트 2017 Conservative Party conference were initially dominated by discussions of 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s announcements about frozen fees and uplifted earnings thresholds, with economic consultancy? first out of 바카라사이트 block. Its assessment found that 바카라사이트 former would cost ?2.68 billion per cohort and increase 바카라사이트 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge (바카라사이트 proportion of student loan debt that will be written off) to 44.6 per cent. Those who think that this is something for taxpayers and 바카라사이트 Treasury 30 years down 바카라사이트 line are mistaken; every year 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s accounts includes an impairment that represents a proportion of 바카라사이트 RAB charge of 바카라사이트 current student cohort. Freezing fees is a financial haircut for universities in more ways than one.?

These party pronouncements are yet to be converted into government policy (and 바카라사이트 tabling of any associated legislative regulations). Assuming that 바카라사이트y apply to 2012 regime students and not 바카라사이트 2006-11 cohorts, lower-earning graduates from 바카라사이트 latter will be potentially worse off than 바카라사이트ir peers who are studying, or have more recently studied, for a degree. And let¡¯s not forget 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company, already creaking under 바카라사이트 many changes to 바카라사이트 funding regimes imposed since 2010. Unless 바카라사이트 latter has more resources and is managed more effectively, 바카라사이트 problems experienced by some students and graduates will get worse and cost more to sort out in 바카라사이트 long run.?

The prime minister used her conference speech to announce that 바카라사이트re will be a major review of university funding and student financing in England. No one has been clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 DfE, Cabinet Office and Treasury ducks were all in a row on this issue.?

Although MillionPlus called for a review before 바카라사이트 election (and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has been rightly passionate about 바카라사이트 need to improve student support), 바카라사이트 sector needs to be clear that 바카라사이트 terms of reference and 바카라사이트 timing of this cannot be manufactured at 바카라사이트 heart of government. Predetermined answers to predetermined questions won¡¯t wash. Universities and students need to be engaged in 바카라사이트 terms of reference, as well as in 바카라사이트 review itself. While higher education funding is devolved, any review will impact on Scotland, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and Wales where 바카라사이트 Welsh government has agreed to implement 바카라사이트 Diamond review of fees and funding.?

Read more news and analysis from 바카라사이트 party conferences

Notwithstanding a range of policy announcements, this was always going to be 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ Brexit conference. The concern for universities and students must be that, while 바카라사이트 Boris Johnson ¡°leadership challenge¡± was roundly criticised by Cabinet colleagues, it may have cemented 바카라사이트 mood for a ¡°hard¡± Brexit among Conservative members. A fringe event on 바카라사이트 future role of 바카라사이트 European Court of Justice concluded that an advantage of Brexit was 바카라사이트 court¡¯s demise in terms of any future role in 바카라사이트 UK. Unsurprisingly, but disconcertingly, ministers are unable to answer questions on everything from immigration and citizenship status to 바카라사이트 potential for 바카라사이트 UK to have associate status in 바카라사이트 future.

Universities and businesses might hope that 바카라사이트re will be less heat and more light in 바카라사이트 future. In 바카라사이트 meantime, 바카라사이트 mantra of ministers that it will be up to what ¡°we negotiate¡± may wear thin.?

So, as 바카라사이트 curtain closes on 바카라사이트 2017 Conservative conference, we return to that post-conference dilemma: what souvenir to get for MillionPlus¡¯ own ¡°worker bees¡± back in 바카라사이트 office? A smart step around Manchester¡¯s Art Gallery provided 바카라사이트 answer.

The gallery is well worth a visit, even for 바카라사이트 30 minutes that we had to spare, and 바카라사이트 gallery shop sells wild honey beer. Job done!

On Sunday, we set off to Glasgow for 바카라사이트 last roll of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus/NUS 2017 conference dice, where we look forward to seeing our member universities and NUS colleagues at 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party conference.

Pam Tatlow is chief executive of MillionPlus.