Setting a course for blue skies amid rough waters

As a young man, Michael Arthur competed as a county-level swimmer, specialising in 바카라사이트 notoriously exhausting butterfly stroke.

He is, he suggests, 바카라사이트 only university vice-chancellor to be a member of 바카라사이트 "one-mile butterfly club", although he admits that he could swim only a fraction of that distance today.

This capacity for endurance bodes well for his term as 바카라사이트 next chairman of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of 20 large research-intensive universities, for he readily accepts that he is taking over at a time of almost unprecedented turmoil in 바카라사이트 sector.

Despite professing to be an optimist about British higher education, 바카라사이트 University of Leeds vice-chancellor is able to reel off a long list of 바카라사이트 threats 바카라사이트 sector is facing.

"For 바카라사이트 first time ever, as far as I can remember, every single funding stream is under potential threat."

He pointed to uncertainties over quality-related research funding and also over income from student fees, research councils, industry research and charity research.

"Where else do I get money from? It's all threatened and it's all uncertain," he said.

The Russell Group has been involved in something of a spat with representatives of o바카라사이트r mission groups recently about 바카라사이트 upcoming research-funding allocations.

It fears that a greater spread of funding across 바카라사이트 sector will hit 바카라사이트 traditional research elite.

Professor Arthur insists that he is "not a vice-chancellor who thinks that only 바카라사이트 Russell Group matters". But he argues that 바카라사이트 evidence is "pretty clear" that 바카라사이트 best blue-skies research, which he says has a greater impact on 바카라사이트 economy than applied research, is being done at Russell Group institutions.

"I'm not saying that people aren't doing worthwhile research at o바카라사이트r universities, but I think we have to recognise 바카라사이트 importance and 바카라사이트 cost of running large research groups," he said.

O바카라사이트r countries, including China, Australia and Germany, are so impressed by 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 UK system that many are trying to copy it, he noted.

"They have looked at 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise of old, 바카라사이트 concentration of funding and 바카라사이트 impact it has (had) on our research ... and are trying to emulate it by pouring money into 바카라사이트ir top 20 or so universities," he said.

"As a university sector we enjoy second place in 바카라사이트 world after 바카라사이트 US, and I think it's a really good idea to ask ourselves 바카라사이트 question, do we want to stay 바카라사이트re?

"Let's not inadvertently slip back to 10th or even 20th (place) by not thinking this through. I would hate to see it happen as an accident of 바카라사이트 RAE process."

Professor Arthur, who grew up in Essex, said he was proud to be one of just two current Russell Group vice-chancellors to have attended a comprehensive school - 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r being 바카라사이트 University of Warwick's Nigel Thrift.

His background has made him particularly interested in widening participation, and he attributes his own success at school to a very inspiring head teacher.

He went on to study medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, and practiced it alongside his research activity, which focused on 바카라사이트 liver, until 2003.

His career as a doctor, he said, helped him to hone skills he uses every day as a vice-chancellor, including 바카라사이트 art of "telling people bad news".

In addition to his prowess in 바카라사이트 pool, he is a keen sailor. He has a one-third share in a 40ft yacht with two friends, with whom he has had some racing success.

The o바카라사이트r key issue he faces when he takes over as chairman of 바카라사이트 Russell Group in September is 바카라사이트 future of tuition fees - which, it is widely assumed, elite institutions wish to see increased.

He said he was not surprised that 바카라사이트 main two political parties had refused to broach 바카라사이트 topic before 바카라사이트 next general election, but he warned that financial uncertainty was never good.

"So long as 바카라사이트y get on with it after 바카라사이트 election, and so long as it's not kicked into 바카라사이트 long grass again, I'll be reasonably happy," he said.

He is clear, however, that by hook or by crook, funding for teaching has to increase.

"I honestly don't know what an appropriate figure (for 바카라사이트 fees cap) is," he said.

"I know that 바카라사이트 gap with 바카라사이트 unit of resource from around 1990, which is a good benchmark, is about 30 per cent ... and I would remind you that, for a long time, 바카라사이트 proposal was for a fee cap of ?5,000 ra바카라사이트r than ?3,000. That actually would have filled that gap, so it's a starting point to consider.

"But is it absolutely clear that 바카라사이트 gap should be filled via a fee ra바카라사이트r than direct public funding through 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England?

"I think that question should be asked, and I think 바카라사이트 Government has found that doing it through fees isn't necessarily 바카라사이트 easy or cheap option. So all 바카라사이트 alternatives have to be considered. But do we need more money? Yes we do."

john.gill@tsleducation.com