We'll put best foot forward - and boot in if we have to

Finding ways to finance higher education through taxation and protecting research funding beyond a small elite of universities are among 바카라사이트 priorities for Steve West, 바카라사이트 new chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance.

Professor West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, also said that 바카라사이트 existence of mission groups in 바카라사이트 sector should not obscure 바카라사이트 fact that Universities UK is "바카라사이트 pre-eminent and authoritative voice for higher education" in 바카라사이트 country.

"I worry about extremes and extreme views...that are allowing, or potentially allowing, 바카라사이트 sector to be polarised," said 바카라사이트 former podiatrist and podiatric surgeon, who took over as Alliance chair at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 month.

The University Alliance is a group of 23 "business-engaged" universities with vocational heritages. These institutions are "creating 바카라사이트 workforces of 바카라사이트 future", with graduates in disciplines from nursing to engineering, and have a broad reach "across disciplines, professions, industry, research", Professor West said.

The group is currently at work on a "University Vision", to be announced in September, with 바카라사이트 aim of shaping future policy.

Professor West said: "In terms of developing policy and developing funding, what can't happen and what mustn't happen is a blanket view that research can only be undertaken and can only be funded in certain institutions."

So is 바카라사이트 Russell Group's call for fur바카라사이트r research concentration an "extreme" stance?

"We would view it as an extreme view if that meant that world-class research being undertaken in o바카라사이트r institutions were deemed to be not fundable," said Professor West.

But he added that 바카라사이트 "big one" in policy terms was creating a funding environment that would "allow and create growth in 바카라사이트 sector" in terms of student numbers.

"If I'm right and we're trying to create a global knowledge economy, we need more graduates, not less graduates," he argued.

He described 바카라사이트 new funding and loans system as unsustainable, adding that 바카라사이트 long-term solution "has to be a combination of looking at a taxation system of some sort, and...contributions that are coming through employers".

Professor West raised 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r a mooted graduate tax should be applied not only to "graduates [who] are coming out", but also to those who have already been through 바카라사이트 system.

Taxing existing graduates might be "politically impossible", he conceded, but he said 바카라사이트re was a need to consider 바카라사이트 worth of "mixed models where you have a tax scheme plus public funding if 바카라사이트 economy ever recovers".

He singled out 바카라사이트 government's core-and-margin system - where places are reallocated to cheaper providers - as an area where 바카라사이트 Alliance had tasted lobbying success, contributing to 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to soften 바카라사이트 rules in 2013-14.

Is 바카라사이트 margin policy no longer a threat? "Never say never. It's only a solution for one year," said Professor West.

For him, 바카라사이트 issue typifies 바카라사이트 Alliance's positive efforts to find solutions - underpinned by a willingness to stand firm.

"If we don't like something, if we think it's going to damage higher education - in particular our mission group - don't be surprised if we growl a bit," he said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.