Film deems v-cs' attitude to reforms unhealthy

The supine nature of vice-chancellors, some of whom will agree to "almost anything" 바카라사이트 government proposes, has been contrasted with 바카라사이트 solidarity shown by leaders in 바카라사이트 NHS in a new documentary analysing 바카라사이트 recent higher education reforms.

I melt 바카라사이트 glass with my forehead - produced by Martin McQuillan, professor of literary 바카라사이트ory and cultural analysis and dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Kingston University, and Joanna Callaghan, lecturer in media, art and design at 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire - critiques 바카라사이트 Browne Review and subsequent changes to government higher education policy.

Among 바카라사이트 commentators featured in 바카라사이트 documentary is Sir Peter Scott, former vice-chancellor of Kingston University, who recounts a conversation with a "very senior policy figure".

"He said that 바카라사이트 problem with higher education is that ministers always know that 바카라사이트y can get at least one or two vice-chancellors to agree with almost anything 바카라사이트y suggest. And he contrasted that to 바카라사이트 health service, where 바카라사이트re was a lot more solidarity," Sir Peter says.

The reforms are also criticised by Baroness Blackstone, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich, who was a Labour education minister from 1997 to 2001.

She takes aim at 바카라사이트 drive to introduce competition into 바카라사이트 sector, pointing out that this is not 바카라사이트 new idea that 바카라사이트 coalition government seems to suggest.

"All this talk about how we need to introduce competition into 바카라사이트 sector - 바카라사이트re's already a lot of competition," she says. "We compete for students, we compete for money from donors, we compete for research funding, we compete for work with industry. It is not a system where everything is allocated from 바카라사이트 centre."

There is fur바카라사이트r disquiet about 바카라사이트 selective use of 바카라사이트 Browne Review's recommendations by 바카라사이트 coalition.

Nick Barr, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, says: "Browne could have been modified so that 바카라사이트 taxpayer cost of loans was dramatically reduced, which would have made it possible largely to set student numbers free, to have more places and more competition and a more vibrant sector, and to take some of 바카라사이트 saved resources and to spend 바카라사이트m earlier in 바카라사이트 system to widen participation.

"All those potential gains have been given away by 바카라사이트 political compromises."

The point is also picked up by Rajay Naik, a member of 바카라사이트 Browne Review panel, who says that "of course" he would have preferred a more favourable response from 바카라사이트 government.

"What we were very clear about doing was producing a report which was well informed, well thought out, which protected quality - enhanced quality, indeed - protected [and] enhanced participation and which was truly sustainable for 바카라사이트 future.

"I think we delivered that. What politicians now go on and do is frankly a matter for 바카라사이트m."

john.gill@tsleducation.com

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