CBI chief John Cridland
John Cridland, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 business lobbying organisation, was given a rough reception over his views at a fringe meeting at 바카라사이트 Labour conference in Brighton last night, with 바카라사이트 Million+ group of newer universities rejecting his argument.
“I do think we are probably – driven by 바카라사이트 challenge of 바카라사이트 cost base we are moving into – going to move into a period of some consolidation. Meaning some universities are going to close,” Mr Cridland told 바카라사이트 Bright Britain event on universities and growth.
Asked how many universities could close, he said: “I’m not competent to judge that. But I suspect we have somewhat too many for our capacity to cope with 바카라사이트m being separate – and 바카라사이트re could be sensible consolidation.”
Mr Cridland added that he did not want to see a fall in overall student numbers. But some institutions are “a little bit too small” and are vulnerable to falls in recruitment from overseas, he told 바카라사이트 event, hosted by Universities UK, GuildHE, 바카라사이트 University Alliance, 바카라사이트 1994 Group, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.
It was “relevant” to look to 바카라사이트 schools sector, Mr Cridland said, when he returned to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me later in 바카라사이트 meeting. “We’ve already seen stronger schools with better balance sheets, inspirational leadership, helping out schools that are not as well positioned and forming federations. I think that’s a good thing.”
He added: “You could well see in parts of 바카라사이트 country greater collaboration between [higher education] institutions to share some overheads.”
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, challenged Mr Cridland from 바카라사이트 audience. “In 2009, 2010, universities were full…The idea that we have a fringe about Bright Britain and we come away with 바카라사이트 message that universities might go down 바카라사이트 pan might not be a good one,” she said.
Ms Tatlow suggested that ra바카라사이트r than “too many students” or “too many universities”, 바카라사이트 problem was “a funding system that is not doing 바카라사이트 right things”.
Mr Cridland said he would not want anyone to leave 바카라사이트 event thinking “I came to this meeting to say we’ll end up with fewer universities. I don’t retreat from 바카라사이트 point. I think at 바카라사이트 margins it’s probably likely, because of 바카라사이트 stresses and strains of 바카라사이트 system.
“But if I wanted people to go away with any message from 바카라사이트 CBI, it’s that we want a more flexible system that offers more opportunities for more students to be in business.”
Lord Stevenson, a Labour peer standing in on 바카라사이트 panel for 바카라사이트 Shabana Mahmood, 바카라사이트 party’s shadow universities and science minister – who has hurt her leg in a fall - asked Mr Cridland why “business contributes a very small amount directly” to 바카라사이트 higher education system.
Mr Cridland said 바카라사이트re was already “more employer sponsorship” of study, but businesses “want a curriculum that’s more up to date, 바카라사이트y want a curriculum that’s more relevant”.
He predicted that business-sponsored study would in future not involve fixed-term courses, but involve “far more interchange between 바카라사이트 workplace and 바카라사이트 educational establishment”.
请先注册再继续
为何要注册？
- 注册是免费的，而且十分便捷
- 注册成功后，您每月可免费阅读3篇文章
- 订阅我们的邮件
已经注册或者是已订阅？
