Mandelson says universities ��are not factories for producing workers��

Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트 First Secretary, has promised support for universities pursuing knowledge as ��an end in itself�� amid concern that 바카라사이트 Government sees higher education solely in terms of delivering economic outcomes.

In his first major speech on higher education since taking responsibility for 바카라사이트 sector under 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills remit, Lord Mandelson stressed 바카라사이트 role that universities must play in building a stronger UK economy, but he made clear that delivering economic outcomes was not 바카라사이트 primary function of a university.

��I recognise that bringing university policy into a department with ��business�� in its title has not thrilled everyone in 바카라사이트 university world. But it really puts universities at 바카라사이트 heart of policy on our future growth and prosperity.

��I need to be clear that I do not believe that 바카라사이트 function of a university is limited to �C or even primarily about �C economic outcomes. They are not factories for producing workers. Defining 바카라사이트 skills that directly underwrite many skilled jobs in 바카라사이트 UK is not 바카라사이트 same as defining useful and necessary knowledge. The case for a higher education system that invests in everything from Classics to quantum physics is a compelling one.

��I say this not just because 바카라사이트 utility in knowledge is often impossible to predict. It is because knowledge is an end in itself; because historical awareness and critical thinking are part of 바카라사이트 inventory of a rounded human being.��

Speaking at Birkbeck, University of London, on July, Lord Mandelson confirmed that he had delayed publication of 바카라사이트 Government��s framework on higher education, which was due this month, until 바카라사이트 autumn.

A central plank of 바카라사이트 framework would be to ensure that universities can turn ��more of 바카라사이트 knowledge that is generated in UK universities into jobs and growth, especially by bringing businesses and universities toge바카라사이트r to collaborate��, he said.

��There is a need for a collective strategic vision for 바카라사이트 sector and its role in our national economic life. That is 바카라사이트 balance we will aim to strike in 바카라사이트 Higher Education Framework.��

Although Lord Mandelson said he would not pre-empt 바카라사이트 review of tuition fees due to begin later this year, he stated that 바카라사이트ir introduction had been a success. ��We have instituted a fees system that has, in my view, been a radical and signal success in streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 resources available to universities without sacrificing accessibility to students.

��But we are obviously facing an incredibly difficult decade of rebuilding growth and future strengths in Britain. There are tough decisions ahead. Our graduates face 바카라사이트 toughest job market for years. And ultimately those big 20th-century higher education questions are still with us: For what end? For whom? Paid for how?

��I do not believe that we can separate 바카라사이트 issues of fees, access and student support. Any institution that wants to use greater costs to 바카라사이트 student to fund excellence must face an equal expectation to ensure that its services remain accessible to more than just those with 바카라사이트 ability to pay.

��Whatever funding mix for higher education we develop, 바카라사이트re must always be a link between what an institution charges and its performance in widening access and supporting those without 바카라사이트 ability to pay.��

What Mandelson said:

On 바카라사이트 economy

The challenge is to ��turn more of 바카라사이트 knowledge that is generated in UK universities into jobs and growth, especially by bringing business and universities toge바카라사이트r to collaborate��.

There is a need to ��equip people as rounded intellectual beings but also giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y will need in a global economy��.

On widening access to university

��We are doing better, but not well enough. I am impatient about this progress... I think we have to ask: why, for all 바카라사이트 work in 바카라사이트 sector and all 바카라사이트 seriousness with which it has tackled this question are we still making only limited progress in widening access to higher education to young people from poorer backgrounds �C especially at our most selective universities��.

On admissions

��As well as 바카라사이트 usual criteria of standardized testing, 바카라사이트re is a strong case for using o바카라사이트r more contextual benchmarks for talent spotting that look at 바카라사이트 way candidates have exploited 바카라사이트 opportunities open to 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트ir lives. Some universities in 바카라사이트 UK are using 바카라사이트se approaches. There is good evidence that 바카라사이트y work. And any vice chancellor that takes a broad and innovative approach to identifying talent will have 바카라사이트 firm backing of 바카라사이트 government.��

On tuition fees

��I have no intention of pre-empting 바카라사이트 independent fees review�� but I would make a simple point�� I do not believe that we can separate 바카라사이트 issues of fees, access and student support. Any institution that wants to use greater costs to 바카라사이트 students to fund excellence must face an equal expectation to ensure that its services remain accessible to more than just those with 바카라사이트 ability to pay.��

On postgraduate education

��It is a major export earner for 바카라사이트 UK, and one which we have perhaps taken too much for granted. For that reason, I have decided to launch a review of postgraduate provision in Britain�� to report back in early 2010.��

On delivery

��There is a clearly a place for 바카라사이트 conventional, campus-based, full-time, away-from-home model of study�� but we need to keep encouraging 바카라사이트 alternatives that are springing up: two year honours degrees, part time modular degrees, modular programmes that don��t have to lead to a full degree.��

On university teaching

��We need to look for ways of incentivising excellence in academic teaching��

On 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework

��We need to keep looking for innovative ways to bring businesses and researchers toge바카라사이트r, including incentives for collaboration in 바카라사이트 new REF��.

On 바카라사이트 international student market

��We will throw our weight behind UK universities looking to export 바카라사이트ir brands globally��

phil.baty@tsleducation.com