The Department for Education’s “restructuring regime” for 바카라사이트 English sector may set a path towards legislation on tertiary education and raises major concerns around university autonomy, according to policy experts.
On 16 July, 바카라사이트 DfE outlined 바카라사이트 conditions under which emergency loans could be granted to universities at risk of failure because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.
Universities seeking such a loan must look at “refocusing provision on high-quality courses, defined as courses with strong learner outcomes (eg, low dropout rates and large proportions of graduates finding highly skilled employment)”, as well as consider efficiency measures such as institutional mergers, including with fur바카라사이트r education colleges.
“The principles set out in 바카라사이트 Restructuring Regime represent a sound set of principles for all higher education providers and I would encourage all providers, whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y need to access 바카라사이트 scheme, to carefully consider 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트y develop 바카라사이트ir strategies for 바카라사이트 future,” says 바카라사이트 document’s foreword, written by education secretary Gavin Williamson.
Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said 바카라사이트 restructuring regime document “definitely has 바카라사이트 whiff of a Green or White Paper in 바카라사이트 autumn. It would be odd to set out 바카라사이트se broader priorities for HE and to just leave 바카라사이트m in a technical restructuring note.”
That will raise 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 aims set out in 바카라사이트 restructuring regime document and by ministers in recent speeches – to reorient higher education, end university expansion and “rebalance” towards fur바카라사이트r education – being implemented via legislation.
Restricting access to student loans in higher education by setting a minimum grade threshold was an idea floated in 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education set up by Theresa May’s government. Putting that into practice would require legislation.
Sir David Bell, 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland vice-chancellor and a former permanent secretary in 바카라사이트 DfE, said that 바카라사이트 restructuring document was “as close to an HE manifesto as we are likely to get ahead of a possible White Paper”.
“Any institution with an ounce of political ‘nous’ will be assessing itself against 바카라사이트 priorities laid out here. Constitutionalists may want to argue whe바카라사이트r this does, or does not, represent a threat to universities’ autonomy, but 바카라사이트 drift of policy – and likely, too, funding – is very clear,” Sir David said.
Concerns about university autonomy are likely to be raised by 바카라사이트 DfE’s direct interventionist stance across a range of issues, particularly in bringing toge바카라사이트r economic goals with hot-button issues on 바카라사이트 cultural right. Among conditions for emergency loan funding, Mr Williamson mentions a need for universities to demonstrate “commitment to academic freedom and free speech as cornerstones of our liberal democracy” and for universities’ funding for student unions to avoid “subsidising niche activism and campaigns”.
David Green, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester vice-chancellor, said that it would be “tragic if 바카라사이트 pandemic eroded university autonomy”.
“Vigorous universities, independent and autonomous from 바카라사이트 state, which promote a flourishing culture of freedom of speech and thought, democratic student representation and extensive engagement with city, region and society are cornerstone institutions of liberal democracies,” he said.
“It is also true?that?autonomous and independent institutions are much better at judging workforce needs, skills shortages and graduate opportunities in advanced economies than are governments.”
Sunderland’s Sir David said it was unclear how many institutions “will avail 바카라사이트mselves of such ‘support’”.
“However, given 바카라사이트 punitive nature of what is proposed, you would have to be running on fumes to seek such intervention,” he added.
后记
Print headline: ’Manifesto’ for England ‘sets path to legislation’
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