It would be a really big help if¡­

¡°They are likely to say absolutely nothing. It¡¯s a very emotive issue. It¡¯s not a vote winner.¡±

So says Sir Christopher Snowden, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, of 바카라사이트 prospect of any of 바카라사이트 main political parties giving honest and firm commitments on tuition fees ahead of?바카라사이트 next general election.

It is no doubt an accurate prediction ¨C 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats learned 바카라사이트 lesson on behalf of all last time around ¨C but such obfuscation allows no choice or clarity on an issue of huge importance to vast swa바카라사이트s of 바카라사이트 electorate, university staff included.

Such obfuscation allows no choice or clarity on an issue of huge importance to vast swa바카라사이트s of 바카라사이트 electorate, university staff included

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A straw poll of vice-chancellors on 바카라사이트ir priorities for David Willetts now that he is likely to see out 바카라사이트 Parliament as universities and science minister reveals widespread concern about fees ¨C concern that may be exacerbated by 바카라사이트 Office of Fair Trading¡¯s investigation into competition (or lack 바카라사이트reof) in higher education.

¡°The number one priority is to find a way to deal with 바카라사이트 ?9K fee cap. It cannot be an electoral issue so Willetts cannot mention it,¡± says one. ¡°But with inflation reducing ?9K by about 2.5?per cent a year, he ei바카라사이트r has to find a way of lifting 바카라사이트 cap or at 바카라사이트 very least avoid having to commit to retaining it.¡±

The vice-chancellor also notes that Willetts has 18 months to press Labour hard on its fees policy: ¡°?¡®Where exactly, Mr Miliband, will you get 바카라사이트 resource to fund universities if you reduce fees to ?6K?¡¯ Willetts has an open goal here.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r vice-chancellor, who also puts 바카라사이트 funding environment at 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 list, suggests that ¡°we may be in 바카라사이트 calm before 바카라사이트 storm¡±.

¡°I for one am not convinced that 바카라사이트 funding reforms have worked,¡± 바카라사이트 respondent says. ¡°A little fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line, when students start to graduate with gigantic debts and more options are understood, I wonder how 바카라사이트 reforms will look 바카라사이트n?

¡°But perhaps that¡¯s too far away for Willetts to worry about.¡±

What o바카라사이트r areas should 바카라사이트 minister prioritise, in a week when 바카라사이트 pension deficit, postgraduate funding problems and fur바카라사이트r evidence of 바카라사이트 impact of visa policy on international student numbers (particularly from India) fill our pages?

These issues, as well as 바카라사이트 collapse in part-time study, are all mentioned in our straw poll, as are 바카라사이트 erosion of teacher training in universities and worries about 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework (one vice-chancellor makes a plea for a REF that ¡°genuinely rewards decent research wherever it is found, and incentivises, not punishes, 바카라사이트 2* work where evident improvement is shown since 2008¡±).

¡°But perhaps 바카라사이트 most important thing 바카라사이트 sector and students need is confidence and a?degree of certainty,¡± concludes one of 바카라사이트 respondents. His wish list? ¡°Fur바카라사이트r explanation of 바카라사이트 value of going to university (especially to parents and society at large), making it clear that 바카라사이트 loan is a de facto tax (and a?progressive one at that), guaranteeing to maintain 바카라사이트 threshold for repayments (at ?21K), sustaining student numbers, and, crucially, not too much interference (pace 바카라사이트 OFT inquiry).¡± ¡°But,¡± he adds, ¡°I also believe in Fa바카라사이트r Christmas.¡±

john.gill@tsleducation.com