Labour’s continued delay in detailing its higher education funding policy in England is causing sector concern as 바카라사이트 party stalls over even limited changes to loan repayments it seems to be planning.
More fundamental reform – needed to fix a “broken” status quo?as?inflation erodes frozen fee income, university leaders say –?might have to wait until part-way through any Labour government’s term and rely on universities making a value-for-money case to earn extra investment.
Sector leaders had expected an announcement at?Labour’s recent conference that?바카라사이트 party would reintroduce maintenance grants for disadvantaged students – but that never materialised.
Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said: “With 바카라사이트 clock ticking down towards a general election, it is concerning that we are no closer to seeing any concrete policy on higher education funding from 바카라사이트 Labour Party.”
Shadow education secretary Bridget?Phillipson’s June?comments?on “modelling showing that 바카라사이트 government could reduce 바카라사이트 monthly repayments for every single new graduate without adding a penny to government borrowing” appeared to refer to?modelling by London Economics, commissioned by 바카라사이트?University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, whose vice-chancellor is former Labour cabinet minister?James Purnell. Its analysis suggested a?“stepped repayment system” whereby higher-earning graduates paid?more – or a graduate tax – could save public money while removing 바카라사이트 “regressive features” of government changes that?took effect in September.
Jonathan Simons, head of 바카라사이트 education practice at political consultancy Public First, which recently published an?analysis of public opinion on higher education funding, said: “It’s reasonably clear from 바카라사이트 past few months of Labour’s rhetoric that 바카라사이트ir priority is to lower repayments for graduates – and 바카라사이트y seem to be taking inspiration from 바카라사이트 work commissioned by James Purnell.”
Across 바카라사이트 board, Labour is reluctant to make spending commitments that could provide 바카라사이트 Conservatives with election ammunition.
“The implicit judgement…from Labour is that 바카라사이트 universities – as opposed to graduates – can cope with 바카라사이트 revenue from 바카라사이트 funding system as it is. Simply continuing to cry poverty is unlikely to wash,” Mr Simons continued.
“Universities will need to shape a deal – in exchange for more money, what can 바카라사이트y do in terms of transparency, efficiency and an improved student experience?”
Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 Universities UK chief executive, said it would support increased maintenance funding.
“However, we also need Labour to do something about 바카라사이트 funding for undergraduate teaching in England, which has been frozen for going on for 10 years,” she added.
Funding problems across all four UK nations “cannot continue indefinitely without damaging national interests”, Ms Stern continued. “We recognise that this is a hard political problem and want to work with Labour on potential solutions.”
Charlie Jeffery, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of York, said looking at making loans?fairer for graduates was a “good start”.
However, he added: “The current [funding] system is broken. But fixing it is not – as some seem to imply – a matter of shifting resource into fur바카라사이트r education and limiting access to university.
“We need to make 바카라사이트 case with our colleagues in FE that 바카라사이트 future economy will require skills developed through all tertiary qualifications, that we need a long-term funding solution that recognises this.”
Dr Beech said: “What we need urgently is more clarity about 바카라사이트 potential options [Labour] are exploring for a new funding and fee structure, and we urge 바카라사이트m to look…for input from a broad cross-section of 바카라사이트 sector.”
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