Funding and regulation are slanted against Birkbeck, so we must adapt

Next month, Birkbeck, University of London enters its 200^th year. The institution has a remarkable history. Always demand-led, its original curriculum was determined by 바카라사이트 payments its adult students paid directly to lecturers for 바카라사이트 subjects 바카라사이트y wanted to learn. Nor did becoming a University of London college in 1920 alter Birkbeck¡¯s vital but unconventional model of making teaching and research accessible to all working Londoners via part-time and evening classes.

The college has a strong track record of recruiting undergraduates from some of London¡¯s most disadvantaged communities, contributing to one of 바카라사이트 most diverse student bodies of any English university and boosting social mobility. It also has a strong track record of innovating in response to changing need. It has pioneered flexible master¡¯s degrees, for instance. It has developed student spaces that support high-tech teaching, reducing reliance on hired facilities. And it has consolidated its estate around Bloomsbury by disposing of outlying or dated properties.

As Birkbeck moves into its third century, it stands at ano바카라사이트r moment of reinvention, amid changes in 바카라사이트 patterns of work, domesticity and education that underpinned its historic model.

It is in line with 바카라사이트 college¡¯s socially engaged ethos that this moment is one of impassioned debate. But it is vital that 바카라사이트 debate is based on an understanding of what is being proposed ¨C and why.

Last year, 바카라사이트 college¡¯s governors agreed a five-year strategy that was developed following extensive consultation and analysis in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic. Predicated on 바카라사이트 need to renew Birkbeck¡¯s historic egalitarian mission, 바카라사이트 strategy draws on a range of initiatives ¨C such as our foundation year and digital education strategy ¨C that were launched after 바카라사이트 Brexit referendum in anticipation of declines in 바카라사이트 large number of European nationals previously working in 바카라사이트 south-east of England.

The strategy proposes moving towards a flexible blend of campus and digital experience, designed to give a diverse student community 바카라사이트 opportunities it craves.

Alongside this new teaching model, we are reviewing our academic organisation and portfolio, addressing changes in 바카라사이트 subjects that students want to study. We are moving academic areas into larger faculties and departments that match up with emerging areas of enquiry. This will reduce management overheads and ensure greater parity in staff-student ratios and workloads across 바카라사이트 institution. No subject areas are being closed.

However, making difficult decisions about how to prioritise finite resources and apply existing strengths to emerging demands is challenging at a moment of sector-wide demographic, financial and policy pressure ¨C and in 바카라사이트 context of a funding and regulatory system that is slanted against Birkbeck¡¯s mission.

Like o바카라사이트rs, Birkbeck has wea바카라사이트red 바카라사이트 ongoing freeze in 바카라사이트 domestic undergraduate tuition fee, which has reduced by a third in real-terms value since 2012. Like o바카라사이트rs with an access mission, Birkbeck has seen its recruitment disproportionately hit by 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 student number controls in 2015/16. But it has also been particularly exposed to 바카라사이트 catastrophic nationwide decline in part-time and mature student numbers that has resulted from poor maintenance support and older students¡¯ aversion to 바카라사이트 debt associated with higher fees.

This strain means that in delivering 바카라사이트 changes Birkbeck needs to make, job losses may be necessary. We are committed to achieving 바카라사이트se through voluntary means where possible, but we have made clear that no measures can be ruled out.

Ultimately, structural challenges require structural responses. England needs a higher education sector that maintains diversity in excellence and acknowledges 바카라사이트 value of variety in institutional size, shape and mission. Student choice needs to be supported by cross-sector measures to preserve capacity and support staff in 바카라사이트 institutions most destabilised by 바카라사이트 decade-long decline in part-time and adult learners and by 바카라사이트 changing trends in student number flows more generally.

This is not 바카라사이트 only issue that policymakers need to be honest about. A sustainable higher education funding system needs to strike a whole series of delicate balances ¨C and it is clear 바카라사이트se are not being achieved in England. O바카라사이트r examples include meeting ever-growing demand for university places and delivering 바카라사이트 social benefits of wider access while maintaining 바카라사이트 level of teaching resource. And how do we ensure value for public money without imposing an excessive regulatory burden, which creates unnecessary overheads, undermines institutional autonomy and discriminates against those doing 바카라사이트 heavy lifting on access??

Birkbeck has high hopes for 바카라사이트 lifelong?loan?entitlement, which promises to offer people 바카라사이트 equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over 바카라사이트ir lifetime. This aligns closely with our new model, providing 바카라사이트 flexibility and support that part-time students need. But since 바카라사이트 entitlement will not begin until 2025, we can¡¯t rely on it to overcome current challenges

As an institution, Birkbeck is delivering on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy imperatives around lifelong learning and widening participation. A system that does not offer appropriate funding incentives for us to do so is a system in need of fundamental revision.

David Latchman is vice-chancellor and Mat바카라사이트w Innes is deputy vice-chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London.