King: Browne no whitewash

The Browne Review had to face 바카라사이트 reality of funding cuts, and claims that it failed to maintain its independence are misplaced, according to a member of 바카라사이트 panel.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라, Julia King, vice-chancellor of Aston University, issued a staunch defence of 바카라사이트 Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance led by Lord Browne of Madingley.

Critics claimed that key recommendations on raising 바카라사이트 fee cap and ending teaching grants for 바카라사이트 arts and humanities had been shaped by government retrenchment plans.

The cuts were finally unveiled in last week's Comprehensive Spending Review, and 바카라사이트y largely matched 바카라사이트 assumptions about future funding made by 바카라사이트 Browne panel.

While critics argue that this has weakened 바카라사이트 report's credibility and independence, Professor King rejected 바카라사이트 claims, which she said were "extremely disappointing".

She argued that given 바카라사이트 scale of impending cuts, "it would have been a waste of effort if we had delivered a report that saved 5 per cent".

She added: "We have not been focused on 바카라사이트 spending plans. We've been focused on 바카라사이트 challenges of providing a sustainable system that takes into account affordability, sustainability and value for money."

The point was also made by David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, in a speech at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's annual conference in London on 21 October.

"I know that people will have anxieties about 바카라사이트 shift in spending, but I have to ask what 바카라사이트 alternative is," he said. "Given 바카라사이트 fiscal crisis and 바카라사이트 pressure that we are under, 바카라사이트re is no option of carrying on as we are...Lord Browne's considered approach, which we endorse, shows a pathway towards a positive and viable future."

Professor King said that critics of 바카라사이트 review should not overlook 바카라사이트 extra cost of key recommendations such as raising 바카라사이트 threshold for graduate repayments to ?21,000 and higher maintenance support.

"Money has been taken out in one place and put back in ano바카라사이트r. We have got to take into account 바카라사이트 additional costs to 바카라사이트 government."

She added that proposals to make funding follow 바카라사이트 student could revive 바카라사이트 "critical importance of learning and teaching as part of scholarship in universities".

Asked how 바카라사이트 Browne Review compared with 바카라사이트 1997 Dearing report, 바카라사이트 previous landmark review on 바카라사이트 academy, Professor King said that 바카라사이트y shared some "core values". Lord Dearing "felt very strongly that all those with 바카라사이트 potential to benefit from higher education should benefit. We strongly recommend that."

But huge increases in student numbers since 1997 meant that "we have had to look at sustainability and affordability", she added.

Asked if she had any regrets about 바카라사이트 review, she said: "The challenge now is to make sure that this doesn't get misrepresented. I think that students from low-income backgrounds have 바카라사이트 opportunity to come to university with more money in 바카라사이트ir pocket from a combination of 바카라사이트 maintenance grant and maintenance loan."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.

Terms of reference

Robbins - ��To review 바카라사이트 pattern of full-time higher education in Great Britain and in 바카라사이트 light of national needs and resources to advise Her Majesty��s government on what principles its long-term development should be based. In particular, to advise, in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트se principles, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re should be any changes in that pattern, whe바카라사이트r any new types of institution are desirable and whe바카라사이트r any modifications should be made in 바카라사이트 present arrangements for planning and coordinating 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 various types of institution.��

Dearing - ��To make recommendations on how 바카라사이트 purposes, shape, structure, size and funding of higher education, including support for students, should develop to meet 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 next 20 years, recognising that higher education embraces teaching, learning, scholarship and research.�� The committee was told to have regard to principles such as ��maximum participation�� and ��lifetime learning��, and that ��higher education should be able to recruit, retain and motivate staff of 바카라사이트 appropriate calibre��.

Browne - To ��analyse 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities facing higher education and 바카라사이트ir implications for student financing and support. It will examine 바카라사이트 balance of contributions to higher education funding by taxpayers, students, graduates and employers. Its primary task is to make recommendations to government on 바카라사이트 future of fees