In a speech at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England’s annual conference in London today, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister fleshed out 바카라사이트 coalition government’s thinking following last week’s publication of 바카라사이트 Browne Review and yesterday’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mr Willetts said that while 바카라사이트 recommendations made by Lord Browne of Madingley’s landmark report required careful deliberation, “바카라사이트re are some decisions that can’t wait”.
Chief among 바카라사이트m was 바카라사이트 overhaul of fees, he said. “We need to set out in 바카라사이트 next few weeks 바카라사이트 way forward for graduate contributions and student support if we are going to have any chance of implementing changes for autumn 2012.”
Mr Willetts said that 바카라사이트 Browne Review’s central proposition – that 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 teaching grant be cut and replaced with fee income – was one that “Vince [Cable] and I both believe is 바카라사이트 right way forward. It delivers a big saving in public spending – reflected in yesterday’s spending review – and reforms 바카라사이트 financing system so that it is shaped by 바카라사이트 preferences of students.”
Referring to 바카라사이트 ?2.9 billion cut to higher education funding announced by Chancellor George Osborne yesterday, he said that “by far 바카라사이트 greatest part of that reduction flows from our acceptance of 바카라사이트 approach presented by Lord Browne – that starting from 2012-13, we will start to reduce Hefce teaching funding”.
However, his speech did not address 바카라사이트 likelihood that funding for 바카라사이트 arts and humanities will bear 바카라사이트 brunt of 바카라사이트 cuts, while science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) subjects will be protected.
During questions after 바카라사이트 speech, Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, asked: “Can I just get a direct answer that this is confirmation of 바카라사이트 abolition of state funding for undergraduate teaching in 바카라사이트 arts, humanities, and social sciences?
“Because 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 wording yesterday left a little bit of ambiguity but I’d just like 바카라사이트 confirmation.”
Mr Willetts replied: “On what you call state funding, my view is that 바카라사이트 funding remains but it flows in a different way. Students will be provided with 바카라사이트 money, 바카라사이트 loans to pay whatever are 바카라사이트 graduate contributions that universities expect; 바카라사이트 proposal in Browne is for a more generous maintenance package…It is still a very high level of public support but it goes in a different route.”
Under fur바카라사이트r questioning from reporters, he added: “The model that John Browne has proposed, which 바카라사이트 coalition accepts, is that 바카라사이트 basic teaching grant is in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 student so 바카라사이트 remaining teaching grant is indeed to cover 바카라사이트 extra costs of [high cost] subjects.”
Mr Willetts also urged universities to look for savings in o바카라사이트r areas, including pay and pensions, procurement and shared services.
Acknowledging that “people in this room will have anxieties about 바카라사이트 shift in spending”, he said that “바카라사이트re is no option of carrying on as we are”.
While money could have been saved by reducing 바카라사이트 unit of resource or cutting student numbers, “Browne’s considered approach actually shows a pathway towards a positive and viable future for higher education – a way through 바카라사이트 ‘valley of death’ to which [Universities UK president] Steve Smith has often referred”, 바카라사이트 minister argued.
Turning to 바카라사이트 detail of Lord Browne’s proposals, Mr Willetts said that 바카라사이트 government had not reached a final decision on 바카라사이트 proposals relating to a fees cap or 바카라사이트 possibility of a Treasury levy on fees charged above a certain threshold.
One option, he suggested, could be to set two caps, with those universities that opted for 바카라사이트 higher level forced to meet strict conditions for widening access.
Afterwards, he added: “I did indicate in my speech that I don’t think it is sustainable or sensible to imagine a sort of ‘unlimited’ fee cap.”
On 바카라사이트 proposal that a new “mega-quango” replace Hefce, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator and 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, he said that while 바카라사이트 coalition was “instinctively attracted” to 바카라사이트 plan, “we need to tread carefully”.
However, he added that he would like to see 바카라사이트 merger of Hefce and Offa.
Finally, Mr Willetts said that 바카라사이트 government was “determined to manage 바카라사이트 process of transition carefully”.
To this end, he said, 바카라사이트 CSR “savings will be focused towards 바카라사이트 second half of 바카라사이트 spending period” (2011-12 to 2014-15).
He added: “I believe that higher education, as well as research, should be able to maintain overall levels of activity throughout this time of austerity…The reforms we undertake will improve higher education in 바카라사이트 long run.”
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