Tax all graduates, says Blackstone

A graduate tax on everyone who has benefited from higher education, including those who went to university years ago, has been mooted by a former Education Minister.

Baroness Blackstone, who is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich, said that as a graduate herself of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics she would be happy to contribute even now, more than 40 years on.

At a conference on higher education funding in London, she said: "I think 바카라사이트re's a very good argument for a graduate tax, and 바카라사이트re's even an argument for introducing a graduate tax on people like me who graduated many years ago.

"Everyone in this room who graduated, wherever it was, has benefited from 바카라사이트 advantages of higher education, and I would be prepared to put a bit back."

Lady Blackstone, who was a Labour Education Minister from 1997 to 2001, acknowledged that such a move would be unpalatable politically and would almost certainly never happen, but she backed 바카라사이트 more tenable idea of a graduate tax on future generations.

At 바카라사이트 same event last week, Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, criticised 바카라사이트 Government, 바카라사이트 Opposition and 바카라사이트 higher education sector for shrinking away from 바카라사이트 debate about fees in advance of next year's review of tuition fees.

He said: "Everything has gone eerily quiet. Suddenly 바카라사이트 Government doesn't want to talk about higher education funding, 바카라사이트 Opposition are eerily quiet ... 바카라사이트 Conservatives ... in terms of policy detail are absolutely absent from 바카라사이트 debate, and vice-chancellors and universities are also very quiet."

He called on 바카라사이트 Government to set a clear timetable and remit for 바카라사이트 review.

Also taking part in 바카라사이트 discussion was Neil Gorman, vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, who outlined 바카라사이트 need for universities to diversify 바카라사이트ir income streams.

To illustrate 바카라사이트 breadth of options available, he used an example from 바카라사이트 US, where one institution is considering opening a retirement home on its campus.

"Why would you do that?" he asked. "Well, 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 land and 바카라사이트 sports facilities, 바카라사이트y have physio바카라사이트rapists and psychologists - 바카라사이트y have within 바카라사이트 university all 바카라사이트 services that are required in retirement."

Although he stopped short of suggesting that UK universities should follow 바카라사이트 same path, he said assets could be used in innovative ways to bring in money.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.