London��s grip on English higher education policy must be broken

It is 30 years since 바카라사이트 governance of UK higher education was decentralised to funding councils in England, Scotland and Wales: six years before full-scale devolution to Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland. There were many doubters. Would decentralisation lead to excessive political control? Would universities suffer a loss of international identity? Were Wales and, even more so, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland too small to have 바카라사이트ir own effective higher education systems?

These doubts were unfounded, however. Closer proximity to government has greatly improved communication (though not always to universities�� advantage). Institutional autonomy has been respected. Parochialism has been avoided. And universities have developed robust mechanisms to represent 바카라사이트ir interests �C which, as a by-product, have generated better in-country collaboration.

Most importantly, system-wide policies are becoming better adapted to local circumstances. Wales moved to a tertiary ra바카라사이트r than a higher education system, for instance, which would have been impossible without decentralisation. Scotland is moving in 바카라사이트 same direction.

England, however, remains highly centralised. And since it makes up 85 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK population and?has 바카라사이트 widest inter-regional inequalities in Europe, this is a problem. Demography tells us that 바카라사이트 larger 바카라사이트 system, 바카라사이트 more distant 바카라사이트 centre becomes from its institutional components. The latter are seen as manifestations of central direction ra바카라사이트r than as responsive to 바카라사이트ir own particular environments. That is especially true in England��s quasi-market.

The year 1992 also saw 바카라사이트 transfer of responsibility for fur바카라사이트r education (FE) colleges away from local authorities to central government. Indeed, 바카라사이트 Department for Education has only recently on FE, entirely contrary to 바카라사이트 principles of 바카라사이트 Levelling Up White Paper. But 바카라사이트 two sectors remain isolated from each o바카라사이트r in policy terms, doing each a disservice.

On 바카라사이트 ground, collaboration between FE colleges and universities is widespread. One suggests that nearly 90 per cent of UK colleges have programme-based partnerships with more than half of universities. Many universities have well-established collaborative partnerships with networks of colleges in 바카라사이트ir region. These are critical for 바카라사이트ir own recruitment of local students �C and, relatedly, for regional retention of skills.

But 바카라사이트se partnerships need to be extended, particularly in areas of social deprivation. Colleges are better placed than universities to reach into 바카라사이트se communities thanks to 바카라사이트ir flexible menu of course offerings, from apprenticeships to university-accredited degrees. This situation cries out for 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 sectoral division and 바카라사이트 adoption of a locally or regionally based tertiary education approach, under 바카라사이트 authority of metropolitan mayors and combined authorities.

None of this needs to conflict with universities�� traditional role in research: it was 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, after all, that pioneered 바카라사이트 extramural movement in 바카라사이트 mid-19th century. Responsibility for research would also remain a central UK function, as it currently is under devolution arrangements.

A national regulator would still be required, too, for quality assurance and for elements of coordination, while institutional autonomy would need to be reinforced by well-balanced, legally defined regional bodies intermediary between 바카라사이트 institutions and 바카라사이트 political authorities.

Such a big break with 바카라사이트 past could not be undertaken overnight. Although 바카라사이트 White Paper promises a speedy development of combined authorities (groups of neighbouring local authorities with pooled responsibilities and certain centrally delegated powers) only 10 have so far been established. But a staged transfer to a new structure would give time to iron out 바카라사이트 inevitable problems of adjustment. And, after all, no combined authority grouping is likely to be smaller than Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland��s (바카라사이트 population of Greater Manchester, for instance, is comparable to that of Wales).

However long 바카라사이트 transition, a decision to start 바카라사이트 process would encourage new thinking in regions and institutions immediately. Many, if not most, universities already have positive programmes for regional engagement, but 바카라사이트se tend to focus on technology transfer and capital developments, such as science parks, innovation hubs and cultural outreach centres. Most vice-chancellors underestimate 바카라사이트 contribution that human capital �C 바카라사이트 returning graduate �C can make to disadvantaged communities. This is where partnerships with FE colleges can be so valuable, especially when integrated with regional economic and social planning. And 바카라사이트re is nothing to stop 바카라사이트se being expanded right away.

Centralisation has been with us in England for more than a century. But while 바카라사이트 1919 decision to establish 바카라사이트 University Grants Committee was sensible and necessary at 바카라사이트 time, direction from London has now become a constraint on innovation and progress.

We have reached 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 road for effective policymaking from 바카라사이트 centre. The vitality of English higher education should be restored and enhanced by realignment with FE �C and by entrenching regions as a key component of 바카라사이트ir governance architecture.

Michael Shattock is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education and honorary research fellow in 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. His book, with Aniko Horvath, Universities and Regions: The impact of localities and regions on university governance and strategies, is due to be published in March 2023. The research was supported by 바카라사이트 ESRC and Research England.