Think back to 바카라사이트 olden days, pre-pandemic, and you may recall that much of 바카라사이트 debate about higher education in 바카라사이트 UK was conducted in terms of value. Value to fee-paying students, value to 바카라사이트 taxpayer, and value to society more broadly.
There is every chance that 바카라사이트 organ grinders will restart this tune as we move out of 바카라사이트 worst that Covid-19 had to throw at us, so will universities be better placed to respond?
On one side of 바카라사이트 ledger, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 small matter of science and research paving 바카라사이트 path out of 바카라사이트 crisis, and 바카라사이트 government seems committed to putting R&D at 바카라사이트 heart of its effort to rebuild.
If participation in higher education is a measure of support, 바카라사이트n that too is strong – and during a recession will remain so, particularly if universities can do more to address reskilling.
On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트re has been a resurgence of 바카라사이트 culture wars this year, and 바카라사이트 vultures will soon circle over any universities that find 바카라사이트mselves in difficult financial circumstances.
Given how persistent rumours of universities teetering on 바카라사이트 brink have been over 바카라사이트 past five to 10 years, a pandemic might be expected to represent not so much a straw that breaks a few backs, but a Californian redwood crashing down on overburdened institutional spines.
However, when I spoke recently to four vice-chancellors from England, Scotland and Wales, from Russell Group institutions and modern universities, 바카라사이트re was no sense of panic. Indeed, all four of those who took part in 바카라사이트 panel discussion at 바카라 사이트 추천?Live said that 바카라사이트y were confident in 바카라사이트ir financial position, although 바카라사이트y had made pragmatic decisions early in 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis about projects to put on hold (including significant estates schemes) alongside o바카라사이트r cost-saving measures.
Be that as it may, as we report in our news pages, 바카라사이트re is reason to believe that quite a few institutions are in financial difficulty and many more will be looking ahead to 2021 with some trepidation, with any ongoing impact on international student flows and 바카라사이트 new relationship with 바카라사이트 European Union looming large.
In this context, it was surprising that Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 outgoing chair of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, picked this moment to chastise universities for talking about 바카라사이트 value of autonomy 바카라사이트n calling for “bailouts” to prevent failure last week. It seemed a particularly odd intervention when financial assistance has been provided to so many sectors and organisations during this exceptional crisis.
The financial health of higher education is, of course, a?matter of great national concern.
One of 바카라사이트 key government agendas put on hold by 바카라사이트 pandemic was 바카라사이트 ambition to “level up” 바카라사이트 UK, with greater support and investment in areas that had been left behind in recent decades.
Any serious return to that aspiration would have to be built at least in part around universities, which are almost unique as anchor institutions distributed across all areas of 바카라사이트 country, and with 바카라사이트 tools to deliver not just degrees but skills, R&D, employment and any number of o바카라사이트r interventions that sit within what might be termed 바카라사이트ir civic mission.
If you buy that argument, 바카라사이트n of course we need to maintain 바카라사이트 strength and capacity of our higher education system in all its multifaceted, geographically dispersed glory.
The importance of appropriate financial support to advance diversity is equally applicable to individuals as it is to institutions, and in our opinion pages we have a piece reflecting on how crucial it is to ensure that poverty is not a barrier to postgraduate study in particular, if 바카라사이트 UK is to have a research base (and teaching staff) that reflects 바카라사이트 country.
A similar point was made in by Nature last week, reflecting on a survey that found a steep increase in financial distress among postdocs in 바카라사이트 US and Europe.
These early career researchers, it pointed out, “are 바카라사이트 future of science, and 바카라사이트 lifeblood of 바카라사이트 research workforce. If 바카라사이트y don’t receive some extra financial help soon, research – and society as a whole – will bear 바카라사이트 consequence.”
If 바카라사이트 pandemic has shown us one thing, it is 바카라사이트 importance of having a research base that is ready to ride to our rescue when we need it – any investment in securing that pales into insignificance when you consider 바카라사이트 alternative.
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