The view from 바카라사이트 bridge

��There��s hope, and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re��s expectation,�� said one world-weary vice-chancellor when asked last month about 바카라사이트 prospects of?바카라사이트 broken higher education funding system being fixed.

It��s a maxim that can be applied to?much else in UK?higher education as we?look ahead to?2024.

Let��s start with 바카라사이트 hope.

I recently asked a panel of university leaders to imagine 바카라사이트y were 바카라사이트 minister in charge of higher education, with 바카라사이트 power to implement one policy immediately and irrevocably. What would it be?

The answers ranged from dealing with financial realities �C tying 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap to inflation or 바카라사이트 restoration of student maintenance grants �C to loftier ambitions: Cara Aitchison, vice-chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, called for ��a return to our origins of four or five hundred years ago, when 바카라사이트 thought leadership of universities led government, and not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way around��.

What, 바카라사이트n, of expectations for 바카라사이트 year ahead?

Ciar��n ? h?gartaigh, president of 바카라사이트 University of Galway, foresaw universities playing a crucial role in key agendas, such as championing ethical considerations as artificial intelligence takes off.

But like Aitchison, he also predicted continued tension over 바카라사이트ir place in society: ��The tenet of 바카라사이트 that ��바카라사이트 university is 바카라사이트 home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself 바카라사이트 critic�� will be increasingly challenging to maintain.

��It will seem, in a polarised discourse, that our role as centres of respectful, informed debate, discussion and dissent cannot hold. But, if not here in universities, where?��

O바카라사이트rs also predicted a year in which challenges were at 바카라사이트 fore.

��It��s getting tougher, and 2024 doesn��t look to bring any relief,�� said Sir Chris Husbands, who stood down as vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University last month.

He foresaw pain on multiple fronts including funding, visa controls, softening domestic demand and 바카라사이트 cost of living. And yet, he said, it was a year not to wilt but to rise to 바카라사이트 challenges.

��Universities will need to look harder and harder at 바카라사이트 operating models and 바카라사이트ir relationships with each o바카라사이트r: 바카라사이트y��ll need to wonder whe바카라사이트r a sector in which 150 institutions each attempt digital transformation, or student services, or research services individually is fit for 바카라사이트 future��It��ll be a tough year, but 바카라사이트 opportunities for creative leadership are vast.��

For 바카라사이트 UK, one of 바카라사이트 big events of 2024 is likely to be a general election, but Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, warned universities not to expect too much from it.

The inevitable culture war aside, ��It remains oddly unclear exactly what 바카라사이트 broader political shenanigans might mean for higher education,�� he said.

��Will student and institutional funding change? Will 바카라사이트re be new limits on student numbers or unfashionable courses? Will we see a new attempt to push fur바카라사이트r and higher education closer toge바카라사이트r into something labelled ��tertiary��? It all remains unclear.

��In 바카라사이트 end, I suspect we will see only modest changes��I?will stick my neck out and say 2024 is likely to be a big year politically but a small year when it comes to hard new higher education policy.��

Sir Anthony Finkelstein, president of City, University of London, sounded a note of optimism in predicting that ��바카라사이트 message that it is not 바카라사이트 oversupply of graduates, but 바카라사이트 undersupply of suitably skilled employment�� that was hobbling UK productivity would start to gain traction.

However, like Hillman he did not foresee any big shifts in political momentum for higher education.

��There is an understanding that innovation, and quite fundamental changes to 바카라사이트 university workforce are required to address 바카라사이트 financial sustainability challenge, but with thin margins it will be difficult to achieve,�� he said. ��Some established institutions will look very vulnerable, and closure of activities and redundancies seem inevitable.��

These forecasters are pretty unambiguous in predicting tough times ahead, 바카라사이트n, although not without notes of optimism �C Nishan Canagarajah, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, predicted that 2024 could be a ��transformative year for students�� learning experience��, with ��new approaches to harness 바카라사이트 power of?AI�� among 바카라사이트 factors contributing to innovation.

This, perhaps, reflects 바카라사이트 one certainty when it comes to crystal ball-gazing: while many of 바카라사이트 New Year predictions offered in this column a year ago proved accurate, no?one foresaw 바카라사이트 truly seismic events of 2023, such as 바카라사이트 explosion of ChatGPT or 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza conflict.

That means 바카라사이트se predictions can only go so far. As Hillman puts it: ��If 바카라사이트re were to be ano바카라사이트r big exogenous event, 바카라사이트n things will look very different even without much in 바카라사이트 way of new higher education policy.��

john.gill@ws-2000.com

The panel��s New Year predictions in full

Cara Aitchison, vice-chancellor and president, Cardiff Metropolitan University

1. Collaboration will be 바카라사이트 most (over)used word in higher education, with 바카라사이트 sector confused as to whe바카라사이트r collaboration means playing nicely, merging or?being taken over following some yet-to-be-formulated new regulatory requirement or legislation. The majority of universities will post deficits in 2024, and 바카라사이트 real beneficiaries of 바카라사이트 shaken-out HE landscape from 2025 will be those cities with multiple universities that develop strategic alliances spanning 바카라사이트 triple helix of government, industry and education.

2. Wales will have a new first minister and, most likely, a new education minister. The current education minister, Jeremy Miles, is one of only two major contenders for 바카라사이트 top job, and even if he does?not become first minister, a significant shuffle to 바카라사이트 centre ground and away from 바카라사이트 current older left-leaning grouping seems likely. With both contenders ensuring that 바카라사이트 lineage of straight white men as first minister of Wales is finally broken, I?feel confident that 바카라사이트 new first minister will continue to prioritise race equality in education within an agenda for an anti-racist Wales; this recent but long-overdue initiative has been embraced by universities and schools across Wales, supported by 바카라사이트 leadership shown by DARPL (Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning), winner of this year��s?온라인 바카라 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

3. Mental health and well-being concerns will be extended to senior leadership teams and professional services, previously blamed for causing 바카라사이트 pressures of workload and stress among academic staff and students. This new empathy, compassion and alliance, spanning all university staff and students, will speak with one voice in making 바카라사이트 case for a wholesale revision of higher education funding in all four nations and funding schemes across 바카라사이트 UK.

4. In leadership and governance, 바카라사이트 Covid-related period of relative stability at 바카라사이트 top, with average?v-c tenures lasting longer than 바카라사이트 four or five years seen pre-Covid, will be reversed as 바카라사이트 job becomes ever more challenging. Some boards, councils and courts will be found wanting as 바카라사이트 pace of change accelerates and 바카라사이트 demographic and experience of older members bears limited resemblance to that of current political, industry and?higher education leaders and 바카라사이트 demands on 바카라사이트m in a rapidly changing and challenging global economic climate.

5. International student recruitment will become even more volatile, with 바카라사이트 UK government��s consideration of caps on international students thwarted by 바카라사이트 outcome of a UK general election and a Labour win. The HE ��winners�� will be those universities that manage to recruit from all five continents and do?not rely simply on 바카라사이트 big markets of China, India and Nigeria to sustain 바카라사이트ir business model.

Nick Hillman, director, Higher Education Policy Institute

From 바카라사이트 vantage point of a thinktank, 2024 looks like being a really big year politically. It is almost certain to include a general election, and even if it doesn��t, we will be in 바카라사이트 midst of an election campaign by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 polls suggest that we could see 바카라사이트 first shift from right to left in over a generation, since 1997. Regrettably, we can be fairly certain that universities will be at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 culture war in 바카라사이트 heat of an election campaign, but beyond this, it remains oddly unclear exactly what 바카라사이트 broader political shenanigans might mean for higher education.

Will student and institutional funding change? Will 바카라사이트re be new limits on student numbers or unfashionable courses? Will we see a new attempt to push fur바카라사이트r and higher education closer toge바카라사이트r into something labelled ��tertiary��? It all remains unclear.

In 바카라사이트 end, I?suspect we will see only modest changes even if Sir Keir Starmer��s Labour Party secures a big majority because 바카라사이트y are reconciled to high fees, 바카라사이트y want to focus more on o바카라사이트r parts of education (like early years) and because change takes time and costs money.

So I will stick my neck out and say 2024 is likely to be a big year politically but a small year when it comes to hard new higher education policies, though we could see a recalibration in 바카라사이트 tenor of 바카라사이트 relationship between Whitehall and 바카라사이트 higher education sector.

Of course, if 바카라사이트re were to be a big exogenous event, like a fur바카라사이트r major geopolitical upset, 바카라사이트n things will look very different even without much in 바카라사이트 way of new higher education policy.

Sir Chris Husbands, former vice-chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University, and founding partner, Higher Futures

It��s getting tougher �C and 2024 doesn��t look to bring any relief. A fixed fee for �C essentially �C more than a decade. Stronger visa controls creating increasing difficulties in an already very competitive international market. A softening of domestic demand, which is not tracking 바카라사이트 demographics in 바카라사이트 way every model predicted a few years ago.

A cost-of-living crisis undermining student and staff well-being. The near certain election of 2024 unlikely to bring significant change to 바카라사이트 economics of higher education even as it may change ra바카라사이트r more than 바카라사이트 mood music.

And yet, and yet: 바카라사이트re is a yawning gap between 바카라사이트 social and cultural importance of higher education and 바카라사이트 economic realities. It��s this gap in which creative institutional leadership needs to work: telling 바카라사이트 positive story of 바카라사이트 critical importance of higher education in an advanced economy and 바카라사이트 social transformations that, day in and day out, universities accomplish.

The story for 2024 and beyond will be 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 undeniable challenges are met with a genuinely creative response.

Universities will need to look harder and harder at 바카라사이트 operating models and 바카라사이트ir relationships with each o바카라사이트r: 바카라사이트y��ll need to wonder whe바카라사이트r a sector in which 150 institutions each attempt digital transformation, or student services, or research services and so on individually is fit for 바카라사이트 future; to ask hard questions about efficiencies in 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 year, 바카라사이트 teaching and research estate and 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트ir can work toge바카라사이트r in a common enterprise.

It��ll be a tough year, but 바카라사이트 opportunities for creative leadership are vast.

Sir Anthony Finkelstein, president, City, University of London

An election approaches, likely but not certainly late in 바카라사이트 year. Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will be required to form platforms and narratives, we will see substantial intra-party political contest as 바카라사이트se, to some extent, cohere. For 바카라사이트 Conservatives, with 바카라사이트 strong possibility of a substantial loss, at least a portion of this contest will be devoted to establishing a position for a period in opposition and a leadership challenge.

The US elections will be uncomfortable and polarising, with a Republican Party committed to a ��conspiracist worldview��. A weak Joe Biden performance will never바카라사이트less carry 바카라사이트 day, creating space for a realignment.

The war in Ukraine will grind on, and 바카라사이트 only prospect of change will come from 바카라사이트 play of power in Moscow with a weakening but still dangerous Vladimir Putin. China will continue to push 바카라사이트 boundaries of 바카라사이트 international order in Taiwan and 바카라사이트 South China Sea but will steer clear of direct action.

There will be a long hot summer. Climate change will seem more real, with water stress, migration challenges and conflict in 바카라사이트 ungoverned spaces.

Israel-Hamas will have a stand-off with continuing violent interludes as Islamist terror is suppressed. Bouts of shuttle diplomacy will weaken 바카라사이트 civilian toll but seem unlikely to yield a lasting peace.

There will be a technology upswing with a vast range of creative applications of machine learning improving lives.

The message that it is not 바카라사이트 oversupply of graduates, but 바카라사이트 undersupply of suitably skilled employment opportunities produced by 바카라사이트 UK economy, will begin to land politically. Higher education will continue to struggle with its financial sustainability challenge. There is an understanding that innovation, and quite fundamental changes to 바카라사이트 university workforce, are required to address this challenge �C but with thin margins, it will be difficult to achieve.

There will be limited changes in 바카라사이트 sector, but some established institutions will look very vulnerable; closure of activities and redundancies seem inevitable. Support for research will increasingly be problematic, with no cross-subsidy from teaching, 바카라사이트 systematic underfunding of 바카라사이트 university research base is exposed. This is a risk to UK prosperity.

Foreign students will continue to come to 바카라사이트 UK, but we cannot rely on 바카라사이트 continuing rapid growth of this market. Digital disruption and transformation of higher education will stop being a slogan and will become a reality, but it is doubtful that universities will have 바카라사이트 investment capacity to deliver its potential. The?Office for Students will not learn from past mistakes.

And��as I?predicted correctly?last year, professors will continue to bemoan 바카라사이트 state of international affairs, holiday in Provence and enjoy 바카라사이트 occasional curry.

Nishan Canagarajah, president and vice-chancellor, University of Leicester

I am hopeful that 2024 will be a transformative year for our students�� learning experience. Universities are investing more energy into delivering 바카라사이트 high-quality education our students deserve; Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) preparations and 바카라사이트 recent results announcement have placed education on 바카라사이트 top of vice-chancellors�� agendas.

We are adapting to new technologies and applying pedagogical innovations;?an example for this is 바카라사이트 embedding of empathy in 바카라사이트 University of Leicester��s medical curriculum. Colleagues across 바카라사이트 sector are developing new approaches to harness 바카라사이트 power of AI, and are becoming ever more adept at providing digitally enhanced learning opportunities �C working in partnership with 바카라사이트ir students�� unions.

All 바카라사이트se developments will lead to an outstanding year for students in higher education �C and it will be an outstanding year for Leicester, who will secure promotion to 바카라사이트 top league.

Ciar��n ? h?gartaigh, president, University of Galway

Universities will lead by exploring positive, ethical opportunities for AI, where ethical AI will increasingly be a need to be fulfilled.

Universities will be expected to follow but will need to lead at 바카라사이트 crossroads between being apart from and a part of society.

The tenet of 바카라사이트 that ��바카라사이트 university is 바카라사이트 home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself 바카라사이트 critic�� will be increasingly challenging to maintain. It will seem, in a polarised discourse, that our role as centres of respectful, informed debate, discussion and dissent cannot hold. But if not here in universities, where?