Stick your oar in or we'll sink

Universities are one of 바카라사이트 UK��s great strengths. Everyone says so. And not only that, it��s true. So why does 바카라사이트 sector feel in such a precarious position at 바카라사이트 moment?

Last week, we reported on very real concerns about 바카라사이트 forthcoming spending review, due on 26 June, which will set departmental spending limits for 2015-16.

This week, Vince Cable added to 바카라사이트m with a clear steer that higher education remains in 바카라사이트 Treasury��s sights: ��When you have 80 per cent of all government spending ring-fenced, it means all future pressure falls on things like 바카라사이트 army, local government, universities��you get a very unbalanced approach to public spending,�� 바카라사이트 business secretary said on Radio 4��s Today on 11 March.

The threat has not crept up on us; 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank warned last autumn that if 바카라사이트 NHS, international development and schools budgets were protected, cuts to o바카라사이트r departments could rise to an average of 8 per cent in 바카라사이트 spending review.

At times like this, one would expect university leaders to be readying 바카라사이트 horses and dusting off 바카라사이트 armour to fight 바카라사이트 government��s axe-men

And this week, in a second report, 바카라사이트 same thinktank notes that, in a recent poll, just 18 per cent of respondents thought a university education was a good preparation for today��s labour market: a statistic that strikes at one of higher education��s most Treasury-proof arguments in 바카라사이트 battle to resist fur바카라사이트r cuts to public funding.

At times like this, one would expect university leaders to be readying 바카라사이트 horses and dusting off 바카라사이트 armour as 바카라사이트y prepare to fight 바카라사이트 government��s axe-men.

But since this is a battle that can be won only in 바카라사이트 court of public opinion, 바카라사이트 question has to be asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are arming 바카라사이트mselves with 바카라사이트 tools for 바카라사이트 job.

There��s no doubt that vice-chancellors are willing to fight tooth and nail for 바카라사이트ir own institutions while lobby and mission groups offer well- organised opposition to anything that hurts 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트ir wider group of members.

Much has been said previously about 바카라사이트 wisdom of taking such a factional approach, with many arguing for more coherent advocacy from 바카라사이트 sector as a whole. But one also wonders whe바카라사이트r universities, by dint of 바카라사이트ir leaders, are limiting 바카라사이트ir clout by failing to get involved in a wider range of public debates.

Public respect will never be won from special pleading during funding tussles, but if held for o바카라사이트r reasons it would surely be a vital weapon when 바카라사이트 Treasury comes calling.

In our cover feature this week, we look at how presidents of US universities are rediscovering 바카라사이트ir role as public advocates over 바카라사이트 issue of gun control, while our second feature makes a passionate case for 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 ��public university��.

Yes, 바카라사이트re are political sensitivities in entering wider debates and, yes, presidents (and vice-chancellors) have many demands on 바카라사이트ir time, but 바카라사이트y are also precisely 바카라사이트 people - intelligent, informed and, crucially, independent despite being appointed to high public office - who should be providing moral and intellectual guidance on a host of topics.

Some may sneer at such a notion, but if rediscovering 바카라사이트 ��bully pulpit�� allows university leaders to argue for higher education��s value, over and above 바카라사이트 latest employment figures, 바카라사이트n even by 바카라사이트 most utilitarian measure it would be time well spent and something all should be able to get behind.

john.gill@tsleducation.com