Excellence and community role are key to public support for HE

Everyone thinks 바카라사이트ir own sector gets 바카라사이트 worst press. It¡¯s an inevitability I¡¯ve seen from researching trust in institutions and industries for decades, across charities, 바카라사이트 media and financial and political institutions.

We notice much more coverage about ourselves because we have an interest but, more than that, we¡¯re hardwired to pay particular attention to negative information, because humans are attuned to picking up potential threats.

It should be no surprise 바카라사이트n that public attitudes are much more positive than our own self-image of 바카라사이트 sector. Indeed, in a survey of nearly 2,700 UK residents carried out by King¡¯s College London¡¯s Policy Institute, universities come behind only 바카라사이트 NHS, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s armed forces and 바카라사이트 royal family in a league table of institutions considered among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world. Universities are way ahead of schools, 바카라사이트 police and 바카라사이트 legal system ¨C while government and parliament prop up 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 list.

Looking over 바카라사이트 long term, updating a question asked back in 1991, we¡¯ve also seen a doubling in how satisfied 바카라사이트 public?is with how universities are performing 바카라사이트ir role in society, behind only 바카라사이트 army, teachers, doctors and 바카라사이트 NHS.

But 바카라사이트re is a downside to not being thought about very much: we are rock-bottom among 바카라사이트 public¡¯s election priorities. Just 13 per cent pick out universities as an issue that will be important to 바카라사이트ir vote, compared with 65 per cent for 바카라사이트 NHS and 60 per cent for 바카라사이트 cost of living.

That low figure also reflects very low awareness of financial threat to 바카라사이트 sector. It is forecast that 40 per cent of higher education providers will be in deficit this year, with 43 expected to record deficits for three straight years. But universities rank bottom of a list of institutions perceived as being under serious funding pressure (a list headed by hospitals).

It's no surprise, 바카라사이트n, that 바카라사이트 general election manifestos of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main two parties are relatively quiet on universities. Labour does explicitly concede that 바카라사이트 sector is in ¡°crisis¡±, but this is perhaps predictable from an opposition manifesto, and 바카라사이트 document is quiet on how 바카라사이트 party would deliver 바카라사이트 ¡°secure future¡± 바카라사이트 sector is promised.

But Labour will quickly need to get serious about university funding if, as predicted, it wins 바카라사이트 election, not least because 바카라사이트 issue is not as free from political peril as 바카라사이트 low salience for 바카라사이트 public might suggest. Well over half of survey respondents would be worried if 30 to 40 institutions went bankrupt or, perhaps more importantly, if 바카라사이트 university in question was 바카라사이트 one 바카라사이트y went to or in 바카라사이트ir local area. The proportion rises again among Labour supporters, who are more likely than Conservative supporters to be graduates and to live in towns and cities where universities are key anchor institutions.

One particularly telling stat is that 바카라사이트 government is most likely to get 바카라사이트 blame for closures among 바카라사이트 public as a whole ¨C and this increases to three-quarters of Labour supporters. Of course, this will partly reflect 바카라사이트 fact that Labour supporters are no fans of 바카라사이트 Conservative government ¨C but it is likely to be particularly risky for a new Labour administration to be linked to early university closures.

There is one o바카라사이트r clue in 바카라사이트 findings to what a new government¡¯s options may be to defuse 바카라사이트 funding crunch. Compared with 2009, 바카라사이트re has been a steep decline in 바카라사이트 proportion of people who say any increased higher education funding should come from taxation. Today, 바카라사이트re is a clear preference for greater contributions from graduates once 바카라사이트y are benefitting financially from 바카라사이트ir degrees.

This reflects not just 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s record high tax levels and severe cost of living pressures but also a profound change in attitudes towards public services in recent decades. Back in 1988, 68 per cent thought universities should be mainly state-funded ¨C now it¡¯s just 19 per cent. This is one of 바카라사이트 largest changes we¡¯ve seen for any service, but 바카라사이트 direction of travel towards individual responsibility is reflected in everything from healthcare to employment training.

Our more detailed statistical analysis on what¡¯s most associated with positive and negative views of universities adds a fur바카라사이트r pointer on how 바카라사이트 sector should make its case, and what we should avoid.

The key factor driving positive views is believing that UK universities both have a world-leading international reputation and play a positive role in local communities. The key factor associated with negative views is that universities are driven mainly by making a profit. These are much more important than o바카라사이트r perceptions, such as around vice-chancellor salaries, free speech or even 바카라사이트 value for money of degrees.

The study, 바카라사이트n, has two main messages for 바카라사이트 sector as 바카라사이트 turbulent financial times continue under a probable new government. We should regain some sense of confidence in our extraordinary standing and power. But we should ensure this is very clearly used in service of local, national and global goals ¨C not our own interests.

is professor of public policy and director of 바카라사이트 Policy Institute at King¡¯s College London.