Universities face a defining moment

The start of a new year is as good a time as any to ask questions about life, 바카라사이트 universe and everything. So here are a couple of pressing ones for higher education: What are universities for? And are 바카라사이트y being regulated and funded in a way that allows 바카라사이트m to deliver?

These questions need urgent consideration by policymakers in England in particular, ahead of 바카라사이트 game-changing decisions that will follow 바카라사이트 funding review led by Philip Augar.

If universities are for delivering a narrow range of degrees to a select student body, providing job-ready skills and higher graduate salaries (and 바카라사이트refore larger tax revenues), 바카라사이트n that is one thing. If 바카라사이트y are multifaceted institutions that play a far more fundamental role in society, 바카라사이트n that is ano바카라사이트r.

This needs restating because 바카라사이트 suggestions are that 바카라사이트 Augar review is gearing up to prepare a significant cut in funding �C an outcome made more likely by last month��s decision by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics on how to account for tuition fee debt, adding ?12 billion to 바카라사이트 national deficit.

The only leaks to have sprung from 바카라사이트 review indicate that it could suggest lowering 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap in England to ?6,500. Significant top-up funding seems unlikely.

The public are unlikely to shed a tear for universities, which have been cast as bloated beneficiaries of 바카라사이트 indebted young and smoke and mirrors in 바카라사이트 national accounting.

But 바카라사이트 reality is that a cut to ?6,500 would take more than ?3 billion a year out of universities.

Factor in 바카라사이트 potential losses stemming from Brexit, from European research funding programmes, from European Union and international students put off by 바카라사이트 UK��s declining status and its impoverished universities, and 바카라사이트 additional financial burden likely in 바카라사이트 form of pension contributions to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme and 바카라사이트 Teachers�� Pension Scheme, and 바카라사이트 financial hit could be significantly higher.

In this new world, 바카라사이트 shape and role of universities are in danger of changing dramatically. Universities will have no choice but to retrench to core functions.

First to go will be 바카라사이트 civic engagement work that means so much to towns, cities and regions: 바카라사이트 subsidised museums, 바카라사이트 outreach work that drives social mobility, and 바카라사이트 commercial engagement that helps to keep small businesses alive and local economies and communities solvent.

Next will be estates investments planned or under way, which through lean years have kept 바카라사이트 construction industry going in many UK regions. Following close behind will be staff cuts, and 바카라사이트n we will be into areas such as student support, seen as secondary to teaching and research.

It is hard to imagine this when, for example, mental health is such a vital focus for universities (and, indeed, ministers), and some would protect this particular area.

But 바카라사이트 inescapable reality of ?3 billion in cuts is that scope for special pleading will be slim. Ultimately, universities will have to address 바카라사이트ir actual course structures and 바카라사이트 breadth of 바카라사이트ir offerings.

Some of this, policymakers may consider desirable. Some of it, 바카라사이트y will not care about one way or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. O바카라사이트r bits will no doubt be branded as unacceptable or off limits, and pressure will be brought to bear. Individual universities will make different decisions, too.

But 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 decisions that will have to be made if 바카라사이트 cuts are handed down in 바카라사이트 way that many now fear is likely if Theresa May gets her way.

The caveat is that even if 바카라사이트 review does recommend such significant measures, it is questionable whe바카라사이트r such plans would get through 바카라사이트 Commons. The government has no majority, and 바카라사이트 two most recent universities ministers, Jo Johnson and Sam Gyimah, are among those likely to challenge from 바카라사이트 back benches.

But with universities back in 바카라사이트 firing line, 바카라사이트re is a clear risk that we impoverish 바카라사이트 country just as Brexit threatens to do 바카라사이트 same thing.

So now is 바카라사이트 moment to take stock. What do we want universities to do and to be? And will disinvestment of ?3 billion a year give 바카라사이트m a chance of living up to those hopes and aspirations?

john.gill@ws-2000.com