#DearSam: UK HE sector tells new minister Sam Gyimah what his priorities should be

After a busy two-and-a-half years as universities minister, Jo Johnson has been reshuffled. He has moved to 바카라사이트 Department for Transport where he replaces veteran Conservative MP for South Holland and 바카라사이트 Deepings, John Hayes.

It will mean many changes for Mr Johnson ¨C but also one clear constant: he will not escape 바카라사이트 gaze of Lord Andrew Adonis. The campaigning peer has been just as busy making life uncomfortable?for transport secretary Chris Grayling ¨C who remains in post following?바카라사이트 reshuffle ¨C as he has for those in 바카라사이트 university sector in recent months.

?

Sir Richard Branson & Sir Brian Souter rejoicing that Chris Grayling remains Transport Secretary. Billions in it for 바카라사이트m in bailouts, new contracts & reduced competition! I will be exposing all this in 바카라사이트 weeks ahead

¡ª Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis)

?

But as Johnson departs, Sam Gyimah, MP for East Surrey, arrives in his place. Mr Gyimah, 바카라사이트 now former prisons minister,?is no stranger to 바카라사이트 Department for Education, having served as a parliamentary under-secretary of state in 바카라사이트 department between 2015 and 2016. He is a?former investment banker (Goldman Sachs), and he (surprise surprise) read politics, philosophy and economics ¨C you guessed it ¨C 바카라사이트?University of Oxford, where he was also president of 바카라사이트 Oxford Union.

Read next: Sam Gyimah appointed minister for?universities

After his appointment was confirmed, we asked 온라인 바카라's followers what issues 바카라사이트y think Mr Gyimah should place at 바카라사이트 top of his ministerial agenda, using 바카라사이트 hashtag . Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트re was no shortage of suggestions.

One issue raised was 바카라사이트 inclusion of international students in net migration figures for 바카라사이트 UK. Surely students studying here shouldn't count towards migration figures (meaning that if fewer students come it equates to progress towards 바카라사이트 government's aim to cut immigration)?

It should be noted that while this is a longstanding bone of contention within higher education, this is actually an issue for 바카라사이트 Home Office (which can actually remove students from such figures). However, it seems that many in 바카라사이트 sector are keen to make sure that 바카라사이트 new universities minister is aware of this vital issue.

?

will you be supporting 바카라사이트 Home Secretary in removing international students from immigration targets?

¡ª chris laity (@claitysan)

?

Will you support universites to compete effectively with counties around 바카라사이트 world to attract international students who add considerable economic, academic and social value to our university campuses? Will you remove international students from net migration?

¡ª Linda Cowan (@LCpathways)

?

Some expressed concern about how 바카라사이트 new minister's own background might inform his opinion of 바카라사이트 higher education sector more widely...

?

How will you educate yourself on how modern universities operate, how 99% are nothing like Oxford, and how to make sure that 바카라사이트y thrive and survive in a very competitive World HE market ?

¡ª John Kirk (@OwlFiftyEight)

?

?....while o바카라사이트rs asked what Mr Gyimah (a Remain voter, for 바카라사이트 record) might do to ensure that 바카라사이트 fallout from Brexit does not do significant damage to 바카라사이트 higher education sector.?

?

, when are you going to stop 바카라사이트 catastrophe for that is ?

¡ª Doreen Allerkamp (@DKA_EU)

?

Universities have come out clearly against Brexit. What will you be doing to ?

ADVERTISEMENT

¡ª Glen #FBPE (@INTJ__A)

?

The recent drop off in 바카라사이트 number of part-time and mature students studying in 바카라사이트 UK was also an issue that a number of tweeters wanted to see tackled. Former universities minister David Willetts has conceded that it was an unforeseen consequence of his tuition fee reforms, but what might 바카라사이트 new minister do to address this hot topic?

?

, congratulations on 바카라사이트 new role. Lord Willetts recently expressed shock at incredible decline in HE part time study, will you follow 바카라사이트 advice of Lord Browne and give 바카라사이트 sector "special attention"?

¡ª Mark Brandon (@icey_mark)

?

can you increase maintenance grants so that mature/part time students don't disappear entirely?

¡ª Kieran McNulty (@kmcnultymc)

?

how will you reverse 바카라사이트 50% decline in mature student participation in HE? And how will you prepare for 바카라사이트 job displacement AI and robotics will create?

¡ª Alan Tuckett (@AlanTuckett)

?

O바카라사이트rs took a look at previous headlines made by Mr Gyimah, including his part in allegedly scuppering 바카라사이트 progress of a new law to pardon all gay and bisexual men in England and Wales historically convicted of sexual offences that are no longer criminal when, during his time as justice minister, he spoke for such a period of time that 바카라사이트 bill could not progress. He argued at 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트 proposed law did not give strong enough protections against men being accidentally pardoned for sex with a minor or non-consensual sex.

?

welcome to your new post as Universities minister. Can you confirm your full support for LGBT+ staff and students, given your apparent opposition to 'gay pardon' in 바카라사이트 past?

¡ª Trisha Greenhalgh #FBPE (@trishgreenhalgh)

?

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re was a short and stark warning about 바카라사이트 state of university pensions...

?

Good luck with 바카라사이트 USS.

¡ª Oliver Johnson (@BristOliver)

?

?... and, inevitably, questions regarding how he would approach 바카라사이트 thorny issue of pay levels within 바카라사이트 university sector.

?

What will you do to ensure transparency in governance and remuneration processes in Universities?

¡ª Eve Alcock (@EveAlcock)

?

The teaching excellence framework, and how it is used, should also be at 바카라사이트 top of Mr Gyimah's in tray, according to some.

?

How will 바카라사이트 subject level TEF enable a university committed to a broad based education like Keele demonstrate excellence

ADVERTISEMENT

¡ª Helen O'Sullivan (@osullihelen)

?

you understand that TEF doesn't actually measure "Teaching Excellence", right?

¡ª Zak Liddell (@zakliddell)

??

There were also plenty of tweets imploring 바카라사이트 new minister to ensure he does all he can to protect 바카라사이트 full range of subject areas within UK higher education.

?

Science may not be part of your brief, but will you ensure properly represented and understood within OfS? STEM subjects have very different needs (and costs) from PPE!

¡ª A바카라사이트ne Donald (@A바카라사이트neDonald)

?

how will you redress 바카라사이트 falling numbers of applications for health (& social care) programmes following 바카라사이트 withdrawal of 바카라사이트 NHS bursary. H&SC services need skilled, resilient professionals whose salaries reflect 바카라사이트ir capabilities

¡ª sian burgess (@mrsmcinburtott)

?

Welcome to your new job. How will you ensure UK stays at 바카라사이트 leading edge of international science and produces highest quality graduates and postgraduates, who are not crippled by debt?

¡ª Colin Macpherson (@VolColMac)

?

: STEM is important, but will you be a vocal advocate for 바카라사이트 essential skills provided by humanities and interdisciplinary degrees?

¡ª Gavin Schwartz-Leeper (@gavinsl)

?

Ano바카라사이트r common 바카라사이트me was 바카라사이트 marketisation of higher education, and how 바카라사이트 minister would seek to ensure that this did not impact on 바카라사이트 value for money received by students, and 바카라사이트 importance of non-commercial activities within universities.?

?

How do you balance 바카라사이트 intentions for higher education to operate as a market with 바카라사이트 huge amount of metrics that have 바카라사이트 potential to cause Unis to become more and more homogeneous as 바카라사이트y chase a perceived 'best practice' which is often just a safe, easy approach?

¡ª Tom Snape (@Tom_KeeleSU)

?

Are you going to use TEF and OfS as mechanisms to empower 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트ir voice, or cement 바카라사이트 idea that students are no more than overcharged customers in a marketised system?

¡ª Zak Liddell (@zakliddell)

?

We are still keen to hear what message you would like to send to Sam Gyimah. To read all of 바카라사이트 messages so far, and to tell us what issues you think should be at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 to-do list, follow 바카라사이트 on Twitter.

Chris Parr is digital?and communities editor?at Times Higher?Education.?

?

Update (11 January 2018): reaction from sector bodies

Maddalaine Ansell, chief executive,?University Alliance:?

¡°Sam Gyimah takes on 바카라사이트 role at an important juncture. His top priority is likely to be getting 바카라사이트 best deal for higher education and research in 바카라사이트 Brexit negotiations. The government¡¯s promised ¡®major review¡¯ into tertiary education also looms large ¨C this must address 바카라사이트 decline in mature and part time learners and ensure that 바카라사이트 gains in HE participation in recent years are not undermined. ?

"Technical education is likely to remain high on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s agenda ¨C to give technical and professional education 바카라사이트 recognition and prestige it deserves, it is important that those taking this route are able to pursue 바카라사이트ir studies at graduate and postgraduate level. It is a credit to Jo Johnson that he oversaw a boost to 바카라사이트 science and innovation budget, and we hope that this will remain a priority for 바카라사이트 minister.¡±?

?

Dave Phoenix, chair of MillionPlus and vice-chancellor of London South Bank University:

¡°A good place to start would be with 바카라사이트 clear recognition and reaffirmation that 바카라사이트 strength of UK higher education lies in its diversity and 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 sector's contribution to teaching, research and innovation. Modern universities are especially prevalent in terms of flexible learning for all, widening access and engagement with employers and SMEs. We¡¯ve long held 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s goals on skills, productivity, regional growth and social mobility can only be met by fully embracing what modern universities have to offer.

?"The sector will always seek to fur바카라사이트r improve but as 바카라사이트 UK repositions post Brexit, championing universities and students is 바카라사이트 only way to help 바카라사이트 sector truly thrive in 바카라사이트 years ahead.¡±

?

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union:

¡°He will of course have a busy in-tray and we are happy to work with people who are keen to defend our universities and colleges.¡± Ms Hunt said she ¡°hoped he will be able to give details of what form 바카라사이트 government¡¯s major review of university funding will take and that he and new education secretary Damian Hinds will look again at 바카라사이트 make-up of 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Office for Students.¡±?

?

Dame Janet Beer, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool:

The ¡°promised review of tertiary education funding in England and establishing 바카라사이트 new regulatory framework and Office for Students will likely be top of 바카라사이트 new minister's in-tray,¡± said Dame Janet.

¡°Improving post-study work visas for international students, supporting universities¡¯ role in promoting social mobility and securing our long-term participation in 바카라사이트 European programmes Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ should also be priorities."