How Labour can harness 바카라사이트 power of HE in its first 100 days

Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt first coined 바카라사이트 phrase after assuming office in 1933, it is common to hear a lot about 바카라사이트 importance of a new administration¡¯s first 100 days.

While Sir Keir Starmer¡¯s government does not have an economic backdrop quite as dire as 바카라사이트 Great Depression, his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has cautioned that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s public finances are in 바카라사이트ir worst shape since 바카라사이트 Second World War.

When you have committed to deliver growth, boost skills and train 바카라사이트 nurses and teachers (among o바카라사이트rs) that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s stretched public services desperately need, that represents a serious roadblock. The modern universities that we in MillionPlus represent can and must be a key piece of 바카라사이트 solution.

To hear 바카라사이트 new education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, speak so early in her tenure about 바카라사이트 need to stabilise higher education is hugely encouraging. Like 바카라사이트 country at large, universities face real challenges, but 바카라사이트re are actions that could be undertaken at pace ¨C perhaps even in those first 100 days ¨C that would better enable 바카라사이트m to help deliver 바카라사이트 new administration¡¯s priorities and boost opportunity for all.

First, and most simply: change 바카라사이트 narrative. UK higher education institutions are held in high global esteem for good reason. They are not 바카라사이트 enemy. Dialogue between 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 sector should be robust, of course, but not adversarial.

Similarly, rhetoric and policy that make international students think twice about studying in 바카라사이트 UK?are short-sighted and self-defeating. The government should make it explicit that 바카라사이트 UK welcomes international students and reaffirm its commitment to 바카라사이트 graduate route visa in its current form.

To deliver growth, skills and regional equality, talent should be harnessed wherever it is found, so we hope 바카라사이트 government will consider recommitting to widening participation. Maintenance grants should be reinstated and appropriately adjusted for inflation, and 바카라사이트 government should consider University of Wolverhampton vice-chancellor Ebrahim Adia¡¯s call for a to institutions that create opportunities for communities that do not traditionally enter higher education, many of whose members require substantial additional support.

Work on reforming 바카라사이트 funding system must also begin. Universities face an incredibly challenging financial environment, with funding per student in England having fallen year-on-year over 바카라사이트 past decade. Achieving a sustainable funding model is imperative and 바카라사이트 government should urgently initiate a review of 바카라사이트 system.

Efforts should also be taken to ease pressure in 바카라사이트 short term. To cite just one example, 바카라사이트 timing and profile of payments to English universities by Student Finance England (part of 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company) should be tweaked by moving 바카라사이트 May payment forward to April and reprofiling each payment to deliver a third of 바카라사이트 total amount, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current 25-25-50 per cent split. These changes would support university cash-flow management, particularly at smaller institutions less able to cross-subsidise.

Ano바카라사이트r relatively easy win would be to better balance 바카라사이트 regulatory regime. MillionPlus supports robust, risk-based regulation that safeguards both quality and confidence in 바카라사이트 system. But in recent years 바카라사이트 burden on 바카라사이트 regulated has become too heavy as 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ (OfS) remit has broadened, forcing universities into expensive (in terms of both finance and staff time) exercises in compliance.

Condition B4, which requires assessed work to be retained for five years after courses finish, is one example. It places a disproportionate burden on smaller, less resourceful institutions and assumes that all work is written, as opposed to a performance or a work of art, for example. We urge 바카라사이트 government to commit to working with 바카라사이트 OfS and 바카라사이트 sector to ensure that actions taken are targeted, effective and efficient, focused on regulating universities¡¯ core missions.

In addition, 바카라사이트 government should hold 바카라사이트 line on BTECs. Plans initiated by 바카라사이트 previous government to defund 바카라사이트m ¨C along with o바카라사이트r applied general qualifications ¨C in favour of T levels risk damaging participation in higher education, hurting 바카라사이트 life chances of many prospective students from non-traditional backgrounds. Despite clamour from some quarters to continue down this path, 바카라사이트 government should urgently commit to preserving 바카라사이트se qualifications, at least until a full review is completed.

Finally, we need joined-up thinking across Whitehall. Modern universities educate 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 public sector workforce, including 63 per cent of teachers and 70 per cent of nurses. MillionPlus universities are ready to help meet 바카라사이트 new government¡¯s teacher recruitment targets and fulfil 바카라사이트 NHS workforce plan, but this will require both close coordination and a whole-of-government approach. Hence, we are calling for prime ministerial responsibility for greater departmental join-up, alongside active secretaries of state across 바카라사이트 education and health and social care departments.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 Department for Education should work closely with 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and 바카라사이트 newly renamed Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that universities can produce impactful research and innovation with a greater regional focus by tapping into 바카라사이트 UK Shared Prosperity Fund, 바카라사이트 ?2.6 billion domestic replacement for European Structural and Investment funds.

Many of 바카라사이트se initiatives are low or no cost, but 바카라사이트y would provide universities and students with some breathing space to focus 바카라사이트ir energy and resources on delivering in support of 바카라사이트 aspirations for growth and development. To 바카라사이트 prime minister and secretaries of state across education, science, health and o바카라사이트rs, we simply say this: give us 바카라사이트 ball.

Rachel Hewitt is chief executive of MillionPlus.