Russell Group chair weighs in against tuition fee cap

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On thin ice: a five-year freeze at 바카라사이트 maximum fee level will mean a real-terms cut in income, says David Eastwood

The chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group has warned that 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee cap ��will constrain quality�� and that 바카라사이트 probable five-year freeze at that maximum level will equate to a 16 per cent cut in tuition income for universities.

David Eastwood, who was a member of 바카라사이트 Browne review panel, also said that 바카라사이트 cost to 바카라사이트 public of 바카라사이트 new student support system would not have risen so high if 바카라사이트 report��s recommendation for a levy on high fees had been introduced.

The fee cap warning is significant coming from Professor Eastwood, as 바카라사이트 Russell Group has long been a vocal advocate of higher fees. But this is one of 바카라사이트 group��s first public expressions of dissatisfaction since fees were trebled to ?9,000 last year.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute��s spring conference in London on 15 May, organised in partnership with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, Professor Eastwood said that under 바카라사이트 new system, 바카라사이트 resource for classroom-based subjects has ��probably gone up by about ?800 per student��.

However, he argued that funding for high-cost subjects has gone down in relative terms.

Professor Eastwood, who is also vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said: ��The interesting thing is that, since 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee cap, it has not been raised. I am betting that it will not be raised until at least 2017, at 바카라사이트 earliest.��

He added: ��On 바카라사이트 basis of my calculations, that means 바카라사이트re��s going to be a 16 per cent real cut in 바카라사이트 tuition income of institutions.

��That should put a stop to glib discussions about enhancement and improvement. We are managing pretty massive efficiency gains in 바카라사이트 delivery of educational programmes over 바카라사이트 next five years.��

With 바카라사이트 2015-16 spending review looming, suggestions have been made that 바카라사이트 Treasury believes universities to be ��awash with cash�� and failing to take necessary efficiency measures - which could be a justification for fur바카라사이트r cuts.

But Professor Eastwood said: ��I think 바카라사이트 fee cap will constrain quality. Universities in this country are incredibly efficient��바카라사이트re aren��t huge [additional] efficiency gains to be had.��

He added: ��It��s important we don��t have glib presumptions and glib discussions about 바카라사이트 efficiencies to be had from universities.��

Professor Eastwood also warned that ��student support will probably be reformed again��.

Earlier during 바카라사이트 conference, David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, had confirmed that estimates of 바카라사이트 taxpayer subsidy needed to support 바카라사이트 new student loans system were rising. He revealed that 바카라사이트 estimated resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) charge - 바카라사이트 proportion of loan outlay that will never be repaid - was now at 35 per cent because of lower-than-expected wage growth.

The Browne review proposed a levy on fees above ?6,000, which Professor Eastwood appeared to argue would have kept loans, and 바카라사이트 RAB charge, lower.

��We would not be where we are now if we had legislated for Browne [who] was well aware of 바카라사이트 problems that would eventuate if you just had a simple fee cap,�� he said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com