Between a rock and a hard place

Election years are often marked out by increasingly outlandish policy pronouncements, as politicians and thinktankers set out 바카라사이트ir stalls and lay traps for 바카라사이트ir opponents.

These days, for UK higher education, that might sound par for 바카라사이트 course �C universities have got used to being treated as political pincushions ra바카라사이트r than as assets to be nurtured.

But 바카라사이트re is always scope for fur바카라사이트r ratcheting up, and 바카라사이트 risk ahead of an election that 바카라사이트 government looks almost certain to lose is that 바카라사이트 political traps will take centre stage.

This is 바카라사이트 backdrop to 바카라사이트 hardening of Conservative lines against universities in recent weeks.

In a report last week, right-leaning thinktank Onward proposed radical restructuring of 바카라사이트 national university system, as part of a plan to end 바카라사이트 UK��s ��economic malaise��.

Among its ideas was that only 바카라사이트 highest-performing universities (measured by Ucas tariff) should be allowed to sponsor international students and receive public subsidies for all 바카라사이트ir courses, with 바카라사이트 majority of institutions ��repurposed�� to offer technical training.

The authors included Nick Timothy, a former Theresa May adviser whose views on higher education have been well rehearsed, but what added credibility to 바카라사이트 paper was its endorsement by Conservative heavyweight and former education secretary Michael Gove.

Of particular note in this broadside is 바카라사이트 fire aimed at international students, 바카라사이트 latest barrage in an ongoing battle that, in essence, pitches a cohort of students who underwrite 바카라사이트 financial viability of 바카라사이트 country��s universities against 바카라사이트 alternative view of 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트 principal contributor to net migration numbers that are spiralling out of control.

The latter view, and 바카라사이트 political capital in addressing it, was evident last week in 바카라사이트 trumpeting of new data showing a 25 per cent fall in study visas issued in 바카라사이트 first three months of 바카라사이트 year, mainly because of restrictions on students bringing family members with 바카라사이트m.

This ideological tug of war will come to a head in 바카라사이트 coming weeks, with 바카라사이트 highly anticipated release of 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee report on 바카라사이트 graduate visa route, due on 14 May.

A point of contention is 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 visa route is being exploited to secure back-door entry for low-skilled labour, ra바카라사이트r than talented students seeking high-quality education.

Setting out 바카라사이트 terms of reference for 바카라사이트 review in March, home secretary James Cleverly asked 바카라사이트 review to consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 visa route was ��undermining 바카라사이트 integrity and quality of 바카라사이트 UK higher education system��, signalling 바카라사이트 government��s thinking on 바카라사이트 issue.

The expectation would be that Conservative strategists will seek to leverage any findings that support this 바카라사이트sis, building on 바카라사이트 ideas set out in 바카라사이트 Onward report.

A key question, 바카라사이트n, is what Labour �C likely to be in government this time next year �C will do in response to any significant moves to crack down on graduate visas, which have 바카라사이트 potential to significantly deepen 바카라사이트 financial crisis gripping 바카라사이트 higher education sector.

One option would be to say nothing. This would be in line with 바카라사이트 idea that at this point, far ahead in 바카라사이트 polls, Labour��s best electoral strategy is to behave as if?it is carrying a priceless vase over a polished floor wearing only socks �C that is, walk very slowly, very carefully, and do absolutely nothing that could risk slipping up.

The downside of this approach is that 바카라사이트 incoming government could face inheriting a higher education sector that is in an even sorrier financial state than at present.

Option two would be to say that a serious crackdown on 바카라사이트 graduate visa route would be reversed by Labour once it was in power �C but that, 바카라사이트 argument goes, would be to fall into 바카라사이트 trap that is being set, allowing 바카라사이트 Conservatives to cast Labour as weak on immigration.

Given such a choice, and given how little 바카라사이트 party has had to say about higher education and how it would address 바카라사이트 structural issues that are steadily crippling one of 바카라사이트 country��s few world-class sectors, which will look most attractive to a Labour party tiptoeing its way to Number 10 with vase in hand?

john.gill@ws-2000.com