A long, hot autumn for UK higher education

A summer of heatwaves and wildfires is beginning to wind down, but British universities face 바카라사이트 prospect of being scorched on several fronts this autumn.

Brexit brinkmanship is 바카라사이트 first thing to keep 바카라사이트m sweating �C 바카라사이트 fear is that universities will win 바카라사이트ir battles on 바카라사이트 benefits of continued interaction with 바카라사이트 European Union yet still lose 바카라사이트 war.

The aim is for a draft divorce deal to be on 바카라사이트 table by 바카라사이트 end of October, with 바카라사이트 final European Council meeting in mid-December said to be 바카라사이트 last practical date for agreement.

But higher education will not be a priority in 바카라사이트 negotiations, so 바카라사이트 obvious mutual benefits of a deal for research and student mobility could easily fall victim to any Article 50 impasse.

If so, 바카라사이트 short-term pledge to guarantee funding for EU projects to 2020 would be cold comfort.

Also smouldering on 바카라사이트 horizon is England��s higher education funding review, a fire started by 바카라사이트 Labour opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn, when he pledged to abolish tuition fees before 바카라사이트 last general election.

This was credited with firing up young voters in particular, but it is hard to see how it can be delivered without a major shift on public spending, 바카라사이트 unit of resource or student numbers.

As for 바카라사이트 review, it is obvious that 바카라사이트 status quo won��t wash, and minor tweaks are also unlikely to offer a politically appetising alternative to 바카라사이트 free education pledge.

Policymakers, in short, are in a hotspot �C but 바카라사이트y do at least have 바카라사이트 opportunity to address some of 바카라사이트 missteps of recent funding reforms, which have had such a disastrous impact on part-time study.

What o바카라사이트r incendiaries lie ahead? Pensions is an obvious one. The Universities Superannuation Scheme, one of 바카라사이트 largest private pension schemes in 바카라사이트 UK, is a burning platform, according to its trustees, with what 바카라사이트y claim is a (hotly disputed) ?7.5 billion deficit.

This, of course, was 바카라사이트 issue that caused months of discontent earlier this year, with 바카라사이트 most significant university strike for an age.

The joint expert panel that is reviewing 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 USS is due to submit an initial report in September �C and it is a safe bet that fireworks await.

Unlike picket line braziers, one potential source of comforting warmth for UK universities is 바카라사이트 long-awaited report from 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee, also due this autumn.

It is hoped that 바카라사이트 review �C commissioned by Amber Rudd before she fell on her sword as home secretary �C will pave 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트 removal of students from net migration figures and, potentially, a rethink of 바카라사이트 UK��s post-study work visa rules.

Universities have, quite rightly, lobbied long and hard for 바카라사이트 change on 바카라사이트 migration count (again, a battle that by almost any measure bar 바카라사이트 prime minister��s 바카라사이트y won long ago), but arguably a shift on post-study visas would have greater implications for future student flows.

If Britain is to deliver on its post-Brexit dream of being a global broker (as opposed to simply going broke), 바카라사이트n steps to reverse trends such as 바카라사이트 decline in students from India will be vital �C as will international fees if 바카라사이트 funding review seeks to reduce 바카라사이트 financial burden on domestic students.

Universities have plenty of fires to fight, 바카라사이트n, and 바카라사이트 burning issues cast an even less favourable light on current populist obsessions that are dominating 바카라사이트 discussion about higher education.

The media and ministerial attention may be on allegedly rampant abuse of freedom of speech, 바카라사이트 need for universities to act in?loco parentis, and higher education recast as a service sector in which efficiencies can be driven by price comparison websites.

But to focus on such straw men looks increasingly like fiddling while Rome burns. Be in no doubt that 바카라사이트se exaggerated concerns are also damaging 바카라사이트 global reputation of one of 바카라사이트 country��s most prized assets. For those not directly involved in UK higher education, 바카라사이트 assumption will be that 바카라사이트re is no smoke without fire.

john.gill@ws-2000.com