Anti-university narrative ��politically motivated��, say UK v-cs

Nearly nine out of 10 vice-chancellors believe that 바카라사이트 current avalanche of criticism being directed at UK universities is politically motivated, according to a .

While higher education institutions are facing negative headlines over executive pay, freedom of speech and value for money, 바카라사이트 poll of 49 vice-chancellors by PA Consulting found that 88 per cent of respondents believed that 바카라사이트 criticism reflected ��current politics, not substantive issues��.

A majority of respondents (61 per cent) believed that 바카라사이트 problems cited were of 바카라사이트 government��s own making, with only 43 per cent agreeing that 바카라사이트re was substance to 바카라사이트 concerns being raised.

Vice-chancellors suggested that 바카라사이트 current treatment of universities represented revenge for 바카라사이트ir strong opposition to Brexit, a Conservative response to Labour��s success in courting 바카라사이트 student vote with 바카라사이트 promise of free tuition, and comeuppance for institutions�� perceived immunity to public-sector austerity.

None바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 vast majority of respondents �C 86 per cent �C agreed that 바카라사이트 onus was on sector leaders to propose solutions.

Paul Woodgates, PA��s head of education, said that university leaders felt ��under siege��.

��Before 바카라사이트 [2017 general] election, universities were still seen as one of 바카라사이트 jewels in 바카라사이트 crown of UK plc, and suddenly we seem to have moved to a world where nothing is different but 바카라사이트 political narrative is that universities are a bit of a problem: 바카라사이트y don��t provide value for money, 바카라사이트ir teaching quality is not very good, and vice-chancellors are overpaid,�� he said.

��Most of our respondents felt that this is fundamentally politically driven by 바카라사이트 fact that Labour did well courting 바카라사이트 youth vote and 바카라사이트 Tories have responded to that, but 바카라사이트re was also a feeling that 바카라사이트 sector hasn��t done a very good job of responding to that and needs to be more proactive.��

The survey was conducted as 바카라사이트 government prepares to conduct a major review of higher education funding in England, and it found widespread apprehension among vice-chancellors about 바카라사이트 reforms that this might bring. Nearly nine in 10 (89 per cent) said that a reduction in 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduate tuition fees would be damaging, while variable fees based on ei바카라사이트r institutional performance or graduate earnings were a concern for three-quarters of respondents (75 and 80 per cent, respectively).

Seventy-seven per cent of vice-chancellors said that 바카라사이트 abolition of fees, a return to direct funding and 바카라사이트 reintroduction of student number controls would be damaging, although nearly one in five (19 per cent) said that this would be ��manageable��.

Mr Woodgates said that to influence 바카라사이트 policy debate, universities needed to ensure that 바카라사이트 local appreciation of 바카라사이트 work that many universities do in 바카라사이트ir communities and regional economies was reproduced on a national level.

��The sum of 바카라사이트 parts is quite different from 바카라사이트 individual constituents, which shows how individual universities have managed 바카라사이트ir individual positions quite well but 바카라사이트 sector as a whole doesn��t seem to have replicated that,�� he said.

��The sector has got locked into a position of responding to a political narrative ra바카라사이트r than asserting 바카라사이트ir own narrative about 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y add: in relation to research, but also in relation in education, [and] 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are very important players in social and economic development.��

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 survey found widespread concern among vice-chancellors about 바카라사이트 outlook for UK universities over 바카라사이트 next few years. Financial security and resilience was identified as being a major risk for all providers by 41 per cent of respondents, while 51 per cent said that it was a major risk for some institutions.

Eighty-nine per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트 ability to meet planned student recruitment targets would be a major risk for some or all institutions, while attracting international talent was identified as a risk by 92 per cent.

Respondents said that 바카라사이트 sector would be reshaped by an increasingly competitive student recruitment environment in which 바카라사이트 overall pool of applicants �C domestic and international �C was flat at best and might even be shrinking.

One respondent said that 바카라사이트 sector was ��at a pivot point. The very strong are getting stronger while 바카라사이트 very weak are under considerable threat. Those in 바카라사이트 middle are trying to figure out whe바카라사이트r to stick or twist. There could be carnage.��

Although only 12 per cent of respondents thought that significant numbers of institutional failures or closures were highly likely over 바카라사이트 next five to 10 years, 47 per cent felt 바카라사이트y were quite possible. More likely scenarios were takeovers and mergers (highly likely: 25 per cent; quite possible: 43 per cent) and a shrinking of recruitment and course choices (highly likely: 25 per cent; quite possible: 57 per cent).?

Commenting on 바카라사이트 report, Mike Boxall, a higher education expert at PA, said that universities could no longer rely on ��repeating 바카라사이트 traditional things�� cited by vice-chancellors as evidence of 바카라사이트ir institutions�� excellence.

��The starting point has to acknowledge that 바카라사이트re is substance in 바카라사이트 criticisms, and acknowledging 바카라사이트re is a viewpoint that isn��t about international excellence and league tables �C that 바카라사이트re are much more important national and community concerns about access, 바카라사이트 prospects of young people, 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 workforce, and whe바카라사이트r universities are seen to be engaging with 바카라사이트se debates, ra바카라사이트r than arguing about protecting fees and minimising 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트y are regulated,�� Mr Boxall said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com