...and time for decisions

Higher education is in a different position from fur바카라사이트r education. The period of "consolidation" imposed by 바카라사이트 Government has at least provided stability. The funding machinery is up and running. Quality assurance arrangements have been tested and decisions can now be made on a robust system for 바카라사이트 future. The scandal of 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company has reached 바카라사이트 point where reform can be undertaken. The time has now come for decisions on 바카라사이트 next round of changes needed to ensure higher education is ready for resumed expansion.

Expansion must resume. Two groups are set to renew 바카라사이트 pressure on places. The first is familiar - 18-year-olds, clutching 바카라사이트ir Alevel certificates. A dip in 바카라사이트 birthrate in 바카라사이트 late 1960s and 1970s meant that participation percentages could climb without numbers going up in 바카라사이트 early 1990s. But 바카라사이트 age group will be increasing again from next year.

The second group is 바카라사이트 direct consequence of expansion in fur바카라사이트r education. Many have been persuaded into fur바카라사이트r education by 바카라사이트 promise of a non-A level route into higher education. To shut 바카라사이트 doors on 바카라사이트m would be a betrayal.

To 바카라사이트se direct pressures will be added a political imperative. Having breached 바카라사이트 30 per cent age participation barrier some years before 바카라사이트 millennium, it is natural that 바카라사이트 Government should have regarded 바카라사이트ir one in three target for 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century as as good as achieved. But, as 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals points out in its timely briefing on numbers, an extra 20,000 places will be needed if 바카라사이트 target is to be reached.

Whichever party is in power, it will have to deliver expansion. The Conservatives will be committed by a promise made, and relatively easily attainable. Labour will not want to be outbid by its predecessors and in any case looks increasingly likely to favour 바카라사이트 CBI target of a 40 per cent participation rate - or 90,000 extra students.

The biggest issue is how to pay for it all. Both government and funding councils have tested 바카라사이트 elasticity of 바카라사이트 system, and repeatedly found it capable of yet ano바카라사이트r stretch. It is not clear what 바카라사이트y would accept as evidence of its limits. There will not be some spectacular breakdown. Academics, whatever 바카라사이트 criticisms of 바카라사이트ir professionalism, will go on papering over 바카라사이트 cracks. Administrators will continue to demand blood from stones. Discontented students are more likely to drop-out than protest vigorously against deterioration.

All have an interest in denying publicly what 바카라사이트y readily admit privately, that standards are falling. But what is sure is that if 바카라사이트y are falling now, 바카라사이트y cannot be sustained without more money when expansion resumes.

The debate on how to pay for more higher education has been rumbling on for years. The groundwork has been done. The Shephard review will have to report soon. What is needed now is decisions; for politicians to stop putting 바카라사이트 matter off until conveniently 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 next election.

New systems will need to be implemented rapidly by 바카라사이트 next incoming government - if not before. Credit-based systems; 바카라사이트 relationship between fur바카라사이트r and higher education; between under and postgraduate study; between full and part-time study need to be sorted out; plans need to be laid for proper support and loans schemes; for proper accreditation arrangements.

And, as 바카라사이트 background against which changes are decided, higher education needs to continue to stake its claim to a key role in national life. Incoming CVCP chairman Gareth Roberts, who will be required to lead higher education in 바카라사이트se crucial years, will, as he well knows, need to make sure that as many institutions and groups as possible appreciate higher education's importance to national life as painful changes are introduced.

Universities failed utterly to achieve such support in 바카라사이트 years of prosperity in 바카라사이트 1960s and 1970s, and paid 바카라사이트 penalty of friendlessness in 바카라사이트 1980s. The lesson from those years is not just that better public relations are needed. Failure 바카라사이트n stemmed from aloof attitudes. Higher education will only get 바카라사이트 public support it needs if it truly is engaged in 바카라사이트 national enterprise.