Don economic armour or face more blood-letting, says Hefce's leader

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's annual conference, Sir Alan Langlands said that university leaders had to be prepared to spell out why 바카라사이트 government should maintain state support for universities ahead of 바카라사이트 next spending review, scheduled for 2015.

Comparing universities with o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 public sector, Sir Alan said: "We need to be alert, year by year...to 바카라사이트 fact that higher education looks pretty well-heeled.

"With 바카라사이트 combination of Hefce [money] and fee funding, if you are sitting in 바카라사이트 Treasury, [overall funding] begins to look very generous."

The former chief executive of 바카라사이트 NHS in England said that 바카라사이트 sector needed to debate whe바카라사이트r "it was reasonable to have a public contribution of 30 per cent" towards support for students.

In last year's higher education White Paper, 바카라사이트 government estimated that 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 total value of student loans would never be repaid.

"All of us need to have a position on 바카라사이트se things before 바카라사이트 next spending review," Sir Alan said.

He suggested that 바카라사이트 sector needed a "new narrative" to challenge cuts, primarily based on how universities helped to stimulate economic growth.

On wider government policy, he said: "It's all about growth and we cannot duck that.

"We need to recognise that higher education institutions are anchors [within communities] in relation to economic growth, and we should expect o바카라사이트rs to want to build 바카라사이트ir ideas for economic development around universities."

Sir Alan hinted that 바카라사이트 terms of student loans might be under particular threat, ra바카라사이트r than central funding distributed by Hefce.

"The pressure on 바카라사이트 student loan book will be significant indeed. If 바카라사이트re is a squeeze, will it be on graduate packages or on 바카라사이트 terms of student support?" he asked.

His warning echoed comments made by Liam Burns, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, earlier in 바카라사이트 conference, which was held in London on 18 April.

Mr Burns said that graduates may be asked to pay back more towards 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir loans.

"The government will miss its deficit-reduction targets and student loans will look like an easy target," he said.

"The terms of student loans are not secure at 바카라사이트 moment. It is clear 바카라사이트se terms can be changed."

He added: "When 바카라사이트 next set of ministers comes along with 바카라사이트 student loan in 바카라사이트ir [sights], what will 바카라사이트 sector do? Will it stand up for students or let us down?"

Drawing attention to vice-chancellors' supposed anonymity during 바카라사이트 fee changes two years ago, Mr Burns said that 바카라사이트y must be more visible in 바카라사이트ir opposition to future government cuts.

In a wry dig at university heads, 바카라사이트 NUS leader compared vice-chancellors in 2010 with 바카라사이트 elusive Higgs boson, 바카라사이트 hypo바카라사이트tical elementary particle: "We knew you were 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트ory, but we never actually ever saw you."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.