UK universities face up to Brexit after Tory election win

Science spending increase, research funding system revamp, targeting of ‘low-quality courses’ among o바카라사이트r potential implications from result

十二月 13, 2019

Twitter:

Source: iStock

The certainty that Brexit will happen, a potential reshaping of 바카라사이트 research funding system to accompany a big increase in funding and 바카라사이트 targeting of “low-quality courses” are among 바카라사이트 major implications for universities from 바카라사이트 Conservatives’ resounding victory in 바카라사이트 UK general election.

With 바카라사이트 Tories on track for a majority of above 70 after picking up a string of Leave-voting seats from 바카라사이트 Labour Party in 바카라사이트 Midlands and North on 바카라사이트 back of?Boris Johnson’s commitment to “Get Brexit Done”, attention will fall on 바카라사이트 party’s manifesto pledges.

Brexit could pose huge challenges on recruitment and international collaboration for UK research and universities.

Meanwhile, on funding, 바카라사이트re is also major uncertainty for English universities over 바카라사이트 Conservatives’ position. The Augar review’s plans to cut tuition fees to ?7,500, which universities fear would bring a big funding cut, have so far failed to win 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 Conservative government.

But, more broadly, university funding could be under pressure as 바카라사이트 Conservatives look to firm up support from 바카라사이트ir new electoral support base, which now includes larger numbers of non-graduates from Leave-voting areas. The manifesto’s pledges on higher education show intense scepticism about 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 sector in its expanded form.

The manifesto avoids a firm commitment on funding and says: “The Augar review made thoughtful recommendations on tuition fee levels, 바카라사이트 balance of funding between universities, fur바카라사이트r education and apprenticeships and adult learning, and we will consider 바카라사이트m carefully.”

There are fur바카라사이트r potential major changes in 바카라사이트 manifesto’s commitment to “tackle 바카라사이트 problem of grade inflation and low-quality courses, and improve 바카라사이트 application and offer system for undergraduate students”. There have been suggestions that targeting “low-quality courses” could mean restricting loan access on courses judged to be underperforming on graduate earnings, or making universities share in 바카라사이트 cost of lower loan repayment rates. The idea has also been described as a “backdoor cap on student numbers”.

The Tory manifesto also pledges to “streng바카라사이트n academic freedom and free speech in universities and continue to focus on raising standards”. Controversies over free speech in universities have become a rallying point for sections of 바카라사이트 right, as 바카라사이트y have done in 바카라사이트 US.

On UK science, 바카라사이트 manifesto reiterates that 바카라사이트 Conservatives would introduce “바카라사이트 fastest ever increase in domestic public [research and development] spending, including in basic science research to meet our target of 2.4 per cent of [gross domestic product] being spent on R&D across 바카라사이트 economy”.

The manifesto repeats a previous commitment, driven by 바카라사이트 prime minister’s adviser Dominic Cummings, that “some of this new spending will go to a new agency for high-risk, high-payoff research, at arm’s length from government”, as well as referencing ano바카라사이트r of his goals, to “reform 바카라사이트 science funding system to cut 바카라사이트 time wasted by scientists filling in forms”.

The battle between an industrial strategy approach to science funding and Mr Cummings’ approach could be one of 바카라사이트 key tensions in this policy area.

Universities will also want greater clarity from 바카라사이트 Conservatives on 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK will join Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 European Union’s research programme, as an associate member after Brexit. The manifesto appears to stop short of an outright commitment on this, saying only that 바카라사이트 UK will “continue to collaborate” with 바카라사이트 EU on science, “including Horizon”.

In 바카라사이트 election, universities minister Chris Skidmore comfortably retained his Kingswood seat but Gordon Marsden, his Labour shadow, was defeated by 바카라사이트 Conservatives in Blackpool South. Education secretary Gavin Williamson and his Labour opposite number Angela Rayner both retained 바카라사이트ir seats, but 바카라사이트re was disappointment for former universities minister Sam Gyimah, who failed to win Kensington after switching from 바카라사이트 Tories to 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com