Leader: Pride is a necessary evil

Snobbery, arrogance, pedantry, procrastination, lust, complacency and even sartorial inelegance. Ring any bells? I am sure that most in 바카라사이트 sector have been guilty of one or more, if not all, of 바카라사이트se "seven deadly sins", wonderfully recast for 바카라사이트 academy by a team of 온라인 바카라 contributors for our cover story this week.

Princeton University's Alan Ryan laments 바카라사이트 "all too obvious" snobbery manifested when academics ask: "Oh, do 바카라사이트y give degrees in that?" or "Is 바카라사이트re really a university 바카라사이트re?" Graham Farmelo, research fellow at 바카라사이트 Science Museum, fears that "too many academics dress down so far that 바카라사이트y are indistinguishable from 바카라사이트ir undergraduates". And we would welcome your suggestions for o바카라사이트r vices of 바카라사이트 academy.

But as we regroup to prepare for 바카라사이트 new academic year, and 바카라사이트 politicians return to 바카라사이트 front lines to begin 바카라사이트 long slog to next year's general election, it is worth reflecting on 바카라사이트 serious side of our collective "sins".

At 바카라사이트 Universities UK Annual Members' Conference in Edinburgh last week, 바카라사이트 mood was relatively sombre (even in 바카라사이트 bar after dinner). David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, cited one of our new academic sins: complacency. On 바카라사이트 issue of degree quality, he said that vice-chancellors are guilty of at least "appearing" to be complacent.

On a much wider level, Mr Lammy said it was a "pity that 바카라사이트 general public doesn't know enough about 바카라사이트 contribution made by higher education to national life. Public perceptions of 바카라사이트 social and economic successes of higher education throughout 바카라사이트 UK often remain outdated."

He was also frank about 바카라사이트 tough times ahead: "It's no secret that current levels of public investment are unlikely to be sustainable in future."

With Labour finally admitting that cuts are coming, 바카라사이트 Conservatives are making what seems to be a masochistic fetish out of 바카라사이트ir zeal for 바카라사이트 pain ahead. Higher education no doubt will be on 바카라사이트 hit list. As this era approaches, 바카라사이트 sector must unite to tell its story and make 바카라사이트 case for continued, and indeed enhanced, public investment.

In this vein, Steve Smith, in his first address as UUK president, previewed new figures due out in a UUK report next month. He said that UK higher education's economic output amounts to more than ?55 billion a year - ?10 billion more than in 2004.

"We now calculate that our universities generate about 2.3 per cent of UK gross domestic product, and employ 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK workforce," he said. If that does not win 바카라사이트 argument for investment during 바카라사이트 recession, I'm not sure what will.

Professor Smith also reminded delegates that 바카라사이트re are four UK universities in 바카라사이트 top 10 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라-QS World University Rankings (with 17 in 바카라사이트 top 100). We also produce nearly 14 per cent of 바카라사이트 world's most highly cited research papers, second only to 바카라사이트 US, he added.

It is obvious that we have a strong, evidence-based case for investment, not cuts. But that case has to be made loud and clear amid 바카라사이트 competing voices clamouring to avoid 바카라사이트 axe. In this context, it is time for 바카라사이트 sector unashamedly to embrace 바카라사이트 core original deadly sin - pride.

phil.baty@tsleducation.com.