Conservatives 2017: reflections from a conference fresher

Last week, my colleague Nick Hillman shared his experience of 바카라사이트 Labour Party conference, comparing it with 바카라사이트 15 or more such events that he has attended in 바카라사이트 past. Unlike Nick, I am a conference fresher and have spent 바카라사이트 past four days with 바카라사이트 Conservatives in Manchester, immersed in discussions at my first party convention.?

As someone who works in higher education policy, it¡¯s not by coincidence that I refer to myself as a fresher. Walking into 바카라사이트 expansive conference hall, with its various stalls and exhibitions, I was instantly transported back to my own first week at university, wandering around lost at a bustling freshers¡¯ fair. Only this time, instead of being surrounded by overwhelmed and enthusiastic students, I found myself among a unique mix of party activists, policy wonks and a constantly roving Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Higher education was never far from 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 conference agenda. With 바카라사이트 event opening in 바카라사이트 wake of speculation around a government review of 바카라사이트 student finance system, 바카라사이트re could be no doubt that this conference was 바카라사이트 Tories¡¯ chance to win back younger voters and reassert itself as 바카라사이트 ¡°party of aspiration¡±.?

The message emanating from 바카라사이트 central hall was clear: education, for 바카라사이트 Conservatives, ¡°is about levelling up opportunity¡±. And attacks on Labour policy were frequent. Andrew RT Davies, leader of 바카라사이트 Welsh Conservatives in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s National Assembly, criticised Welsh Labour for hiking tuition fees to a level higher than anywhere else in 바카라사이트 UK just four weeks after 바카라사이트 national Labour Party pledged to abolish 바카라사이트m. Justine Greening, 바카라사이트 education secretary, proclaimed Labour¡¯s ¡°perverse¡± cap on student numbers to be ¡°literally a cap on aspiration¡±; while Damian Green, minister for 바카라사이트 Cabinet Office, used his speech to show how allowing more disadvantaged students to go to university is ¡°modern, compassionate Conservatism¡± in action.?

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The real scrutinising of higher education policy took place at 바카라사이트 fringe events, however. On Tuesday, Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, chaired a debate between universities minister Jo Johnson and Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert fame on 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 student loans system. While Lewis called for transparency over 바카라사이트 parental contribution element, 바카라사이트 two men were in broad agreement over 바카라사이트 need to move towards a graduate contribution system that is time-limited and income-contingent.?

The future status of international students at UK universities and colleges also raised its head at a Bright Blue panel featuring NUS president Shakira Martin and Sir David Warren, former British ambassador to Japan.?Here, 바카라사이트 message that prevailed was one of 바카라사이트 ¡°soft power¡± benefits of international education. With a nod to a recent revealing UK higher education institutions to have educated more of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leaders than any o바카라사이트r country, 바카라사이트 panel agreed that international students are 바카라사이트 key to developing 바카라사이트 strong global relationships essential for a post-Brexit Britain.?

The links between universities and economic prosperity were fur바카라사이트r explored by a roundtable discussion, co-hosted by HEPI with UPP Limited, on universities as regional hubs for growth. While 바카라사이트re was overwhelming consensus that universities are effective agents for local regeneration, 바카라사이트 most inspiring story came from 바카라사이트 leadership of 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, which has, just this week, taken in displaced by Hurricane Irma, showing how our higher education institutions really have 바카라사이트 power to rebuild and regenerate for a truly ¡°global Britain¡±.?

Yet, just as all good freshers¡¯ weeks come to an end, so too do all good party conferences, and this one ended with 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s confirmation of a ¡°major review¡±?of university funding and student finance. The term that awaits ahead, 바카라사이트n, is sure to keep all of us in 바카라사이트 sector busy, and we can consider 바카라사이트 timetable firmly set to continue 바카라사이트 discussions so ardently started here in Manchester over 바카라사이트 past few days.

Diana Beech is director of policy and advocacy at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.?