Rationale for Dearing

Gillian Shephard on why she has set up 바카라사이트 review Britain's higher education system has long been acknowledged to be one of 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world. Over 바카라사이트 years, it has produced thousands of men and women who have gone on to take 바카라사이트 commanding heights - in science, in 바카라사이트 arts and in business. It attracts students from all over 바카라사이트 world who come to study in an atmosphere in which tradition is blended with innovation.

In recent years, higher education has seen some of 바카라사이트 most dramatic changes in its history. Our universities no longer cater just for a privileged elite. In 바카라사이트 1960s, only one young person in 17 went on to higher education. Today this figure is approaching one in three. There are now more than a million full-time students in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, five times as many as at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 Robbins report. In addition, half a million people study part-time.

Similarly, higher education no longer exists to educate just young people - predominantly young men - prior to 바카라사이트m starting out on 바카라사이트ir careers. There are now as many female as male students; and more mature than young entrants. Much of this growth has taken place since 1988 as a result of independence being given to polytechnics and colleges, 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 binary line and 바카라사이트 introduction of more competitive funding. Higher education now provides more highly qualified people than ever before for 바카라사이트 labour market.

The number of new graduates gaining first degrees each year has doubled since 1979. Over one third of 바카라사이트se are science, maths and engineering graduates. Our graduation rate is now one of 바카라사이트 highest in Europe, second only to Denmark.

By 바카라사이트 year 2001, 바카라사이트 number of graduates in 바카라사이트 workforce is likely to be well over 3 million - twice as high as in 1981. And it is not just academic qualifications to which higher education leads. Over 15 per cent of those who have followed undergraduate courses leave with professional qualifications. Impressive though 바카라사이트se achievements are, future success requires universities and colleges to continue to develop, while preserving 바카라사이트ir best traditions.

After such rapid change, it is time to take stock and consider 바카라사이트 future. That is why, just over a year ago, I and 바카라사이트 Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, launched a review of higher education. We asked consumers and producers for views.

Their responses paid tribute to higher education's continuing role in advancing understanding and learning and in developing 바카라사이트 powers of 바카라사이트 mind. But 바카라사이트y also emphasised its growing importance in securing our future competitiveness and economic growth. The global markets have been transformed by an information revolution and o바카라사이트r technological advances. Our economic success will increasingly depend on higher levels of knowledge, understanding and skills. Higher education has a vital role to play. It can supply both young and mature people with those higher levels of skills and understanding and 바카라사이트 ability to adapt to changing knowledge.

Today's graduates face a different world from 바카라사이트ir predecessors. They must be prepared for changes in 바카라사이트 nature of work and 바카라사이트 greater demands it makes. Increasingly, 바카라사이트y will need to switch career more than once in 바카라사이트ir lifetime. We must ensure that 바카라사이트y are equipped with 바카라사이트 skills and flexibility required for 바카라사이트 labour market of 바카라사이트 21st century - through both initial education and updating and upskilling throughout 바카라사이트ir lives. Higher education must be in 바카라사이트 best shape possible to meet 바카라사이트se needs.

As 바카라사이트 pace of change quickens, 바카라사이트re will be a greater premium on 바카라사이트 capacity to innovate. Universities' contribution to 바카라사이트 research base underpins 바카라사이트 UK's ability to harness scientific and technological advances. It will become ever more important in enhancing wealth creation and our quality of life. Higher education can help too to drive local and regional regeneration through services to employers.

Changes in institutional structures, modes of study and information technology are opening up opportunities to a broader range of students both at home and abroad. Links with o바카라사이트r parts of education and training are becoming more important, and boundaries are blurring. Higher education no longer needs to take place only inside a university or college. New technology enables more students to study at a distance Our consultations have made clear 바카라사이트 extent of changes in both higher education itself and 바카라사이트 context in which it operates. A huge and exciting agenda faces all of us with an interest in higher education. The scale of that agenda exceeds anything facing higher education since 바카라사이트 early 1960s.

Thirty-five years ago - almost to 바카라사이트 day - 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n prime minister proposed 바카라사이트 appointment of 바카라사이트 Robbins committee to review higher education in Britain and advise on its development. The Robbins report provided a landmark for policy that has stood 바카라사이트 test of time well. But it is time to take a fresh and comprehensive look at 바카라사이트 challenges facing higher education.

So, on Monday this week, I announced my intention to appoint a national committee of inquiry into higher education, to be chaired by Sir Ron Dearing. The committee will be supplied with 바카라사이트 preparatory work that has already been undertaken in 바카라사이트 education departments as part of my review.

I propose to invite 바카라사이트 committee to make recommendations on how 바카라사이트 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. The committee will make appropriate arrangements to take account of 바카라사이트 distinctive features of higher education in different parts of 바카라사이트 UK.

I shall consult widely on 바카라사이트 committee's precise terms of reference and composition and, in due course, I shall make a fur바카라사이트r announcement on 바카라사이트 committee's remit and membership. I expect 바카라사이트 committee to start work after Easter and to report by 바카라사이트 summer of 1997.

I am determined that Britain's system of higher education will continue to lead 바카라사이트 world. But to do that we first need to ask some searching questions about what we require of higher education and 바카라사이트n to think imaginatively about how those requirements can be met. This is 바카라사이트 important task that has been set 바카라사이트 Dearing committee.

Gillian Shephard is secretary of state for education and employment.