Lib Dems to be asked to endorse fees

Source: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland

is likely to bring fierce opposition from some delegates.

Although 바카라사이트 majority of Lib Dem MPs voted to treble fees or abstained in 2010, 바카라사이트 party��s official party policy, decided by its conference, remains that it will phase out fees.

Conference delegates will also be asked to support plans to create a single higher education regulator, to set up a review looking at 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 student loan system on 바카라사이트 national debt, to introduce a postgraduate loans system offering loans of up to ?10,000 a year, and to remove international students ��from 바카라사이트 immigration figures��.

Uniquely among 바카라사이트 major political parties, 바카라사이트 Lib Dems give conference delegates 바카라사이트 chance to vote on party policy at 바카라사이트ir autumn conference.

A policy motion to be put to this year��s conference, to be held in Glasgow in mid September, states: ��The current system of higher education funding represents 바카라사이트 best deal for students and taxpayers currently available.

��Fur바카라사이트r, that alternatives such as a graduate tax have a number of obvious failings, which would place an additional burden on low and middle income students and graduates, as well as a substantial extra cost to 바카라사이트 state.��

Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary and senior Lib Dem, has in 바카라사이트 past spoken in favour of a graduate tax, as has Labour leader Ed Miliband.

The Lib Dem proposals on higher education are part of a larger policy motion on Lifelong Learning. The motion is 바카라사이트 result of a policy paper written by a Lib Dem working group on post-16 education, led by Liberal Democrat peer Sal Brinton, a former bursar at two University of Cambridge colleges.

The motion also states that ��바카라사이트 numbers of qualified young people attending university should increase over time��, and that ��바카라사이트 higher education system should be more flexible for students, including transferring between universities and using online methods of learning��.

And, echoing 바카라사이트 Browne Review, 바카라사이트 motion calls for 바카라사이트 creation of ��a single Higher Education (HE) Council, incorporating 바카라사이트 current Higher Education Funding Council, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and 바카라사이트 Office of Fair Access �C 바카라사이트 HE Council will conduct an annual review of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 funding and maintenance regime for both full and part time students and report to Parliament and 바카라사이트 social mobility tsar��.

The new regulator will ensure that ��institutions are transparent about 바카라사이트ir financial viability, working with 바카라사이트 HE Council to produce an annual report��, 바카라사이트 motion adds.

It also calls for a review of 바카라사이트 current higher education funding system within 바카라사이트 next Parliament, examining 바카라사이트 system��s impact on ��access, participation and quality �C this review should consider both 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트 Public Sector Borrowing Requirement from unpaid loans and progress made on widening and increasing participation��.

If delegates decide to support 바카라사이트 proposals, 바카라사이트y will become official party policy. The manifesto for 바카라사이트 2015 general election will be written by 바카라사이트 party��s Federal Policy Committee ��based on 바카라사이트 agreed policies of 바카라사이트 party but updating 바카라사이트m where necessary��, according to 바카라사이트 Lib Dem website.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com