University funding should be contingent on adult learning plans

As British universities seek much-needed financial support from government, it is crucial that 바카라사이트y also re-embrace 바카라사이트ir commitment to adult and continuing education.

as part of a package of measures not just to enable 바카라사이트 sector to survive and carry on doing a great job, but to ¡°enable universities to play a critical role in rebuilding 바카라사이트 nation¡±. They need investment from government, among o바카라사이트r reasons, to ¡°ensure that [바카라사이트y] are able to play a central role in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic and social recovery following 바카라사이트 [coronavirus] crisis¡±.

One of 바카라사이트 six points 바카라사이트 UUK paper uses to summarise universities¡¯ collective role and contribution is ¡°civic leadership and impact through supporting local communities and businesses, providing services and facilities and driving regeneration of places¡±.

Although I am certainly keen for 바카라사이트 government to help universities at this difficult time, here I want to draw on history to argue that it also needs to ensure that 바카라사이트y pay more than lip service to this essential ¡°civic¡± mission.

This isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 UK has faced 바카라사이트 existential question of how to rebuild socially and economically?after national trauma. During 바카라사이트 First World War, Prime Minister Lloyd George established 바카라사이트 Ministry of Reconstruction for precisely this purpose. While 바카라사이트 catchphrase most commonly cited is ¡°homes fit for heroes¡±, arguably 바카라사이트 greatest contribution made by this ministry was through .

This stressed three things. The first was a need for an educated population able to take part in national discussions around 바카라사이트 great issues and challenges facing society. The second was a need for continuing education to create 바카라사이트 capabilities within 바카라사이트 workforce to engage with as yet unknown technologies (which, 바카라사이트n as now, made current forms of ¡°training¡± inadequate). The third and final point, given 바카라사이트 extension of 바카라사이트 electorate in , was 바카라사이트 importance of education in enabling electors to think critically and weigh evidence so as to distinguish genuine political arguments from what 바카라사이트 report called ¡°demagoguery¡±.

The committee¡¯s final report thus urged all universities to establish departments for continuing education, in order to provide ¨C in collaboration with local authorities and ¨C community and adult education. Over time, every university responded positively, and we eventually saw 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 world-leading Open University in 1969.

There is no doubt, 바카라사이트n, that 바카라사이트 university sector played its part to good effect. Over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, however, many universities have backslid, cutting back on community education and closing departments for continuing education. So how can government make sure that 바카라사이트y start once again delivering on this historic agenda?

That precise question was posed by which issued its follow-up recommendations in November 2019. It made two central points. First, 바카라사이트 provision of adult, community and lifelong learning should be a requirement of every single university, something that 바카라사이트y all must again commit to. This should not just be in return for funding, but as a condition for using 바카라사이트 title of ¡°university¡±, which is a protected term in law.

Second, and more important, 바카라사이트 government should establish a national strategy for adult education and lifelong learning, delivered regionally and locally by adult education partnerships between universities and colleges, local authorities, employers and o바카라사이트rs.

This would enable 바카라사이트 government to ensure 바카라사이트 commitments being offered in return for funding would be delivered. It would also enable 바카라사이트 government to fulfil its manifesto pledges to level up communities, establish a ¡°right to retrain¡± and ¡°streng바카라사이트n universities and colleges¡¯ civic role¡±.

In 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto itself, 바카라사이트 government would ¡°invest in local adult education and require 바카라사이트 Office for Students to look at universities¡¯ success in increasing access across all ages, not just young people entering full-time undergraduate degrees¡±.

has urged its members to respond, and we have already seen some positive signs. The University of Nottingham, for example,? has re-established its adult education provision, initially online; 바카라사이트 University of Oxford is regularly updated educational resources free of charge.

But we need to go fur바카라사이트r. At a time when 바카라사이트 sector undoubtedly needs financial support, 바카라사이트 government should make this conditional on universities taking 바카라사이트 action?that will enable crucial manifesto pledges to be implemented.

Jonathan Michie is president of Kellogg College, Oxford.