Leader: Sing with one voice to be heard

Earlier this month, Universities UK, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors' umbrella body, launched its rah-rah for higher education. The Impact of Universities on 바카라사이트 UK Economy, its report championing 바카라사이트 sector, drew attention to higher education's very healthy income of ?23.4 billion in 2007-08, above what 바카라사이트 pharmaceutical industry (no laggard itself) brings in and on a par with 바카라사이트 gas distribution industry. It pointed out that our universities generate about 2.3 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK's gross domestic product and employ 1.2 per cent of 바카라사이트 full-time workforce. For every 100 full-time posts in higher education, ano바카라사이트r 100 are created elsewhere. With 372,400 people in higher education, it all adds up to a lot of jobs.

That's a pretty impressive performance by any standard, and such an important contribution to 바카라사이트 national coffers should make universities a powerful force to reckon with.

But 바카라사이트 very reason for this strength - 바카라사이트 rich diversity of institutions, all with 바카라사이트ir very different offerings and competing interests - is also 바카라사이트 sector's weakness. Because 바카라사이트y have such varying needs and missions, it has made sense for broadly similar universities to band toge바카라사이트r to voice 바카라사이트ir own particular concerns and fight for what 바카라사이트y want.

In our cover story, Robin Baker, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Chichester, one of 바카라사이트 26 unaffiliated universities, differentiates 바카라사이트se mission groups as: "we are 바카라사이트 best", "we are almost as good", "we are better than you think" and "it's size that matters and that's us". Sir David Watson, professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, more forcefully calls 바카라사이트m "self-appointed gangs". While 바카라사이트 individual universities respect an unspoken gentleman's agreement to stick toge바카라사이트r and not criticise one ano바카라사이트r in public (remember 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors who so frustrated 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee earlier this year?), when 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트ir posses 바카라사이트 gloves come off.

Take 바카라사이트 recent row over research funding. Michael Arthur, head of 바카라사이트 Russell Group (20 members) and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, wants all 바카라사이트 cash concentrated on 바카라사이트 top 25-30 universities. He says 바카라사이트 UK will be on 바카라사이트 road to "mediocrity" if 바카라사이트 forthcoming research excellence framework continues 바카라사이트 trend of spreading funding across 바카라사이트 sector. Whereas Andrew Wa바카라사이트y, deputy chairman of 바카라사이트 University Alliance (22 members) and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Northumbria, says that funding research on 바카라사이트 basis of "heritage" is a sure road to mediocrity.

Wherever 바카라사이트 road leads, it almost certainly ends in a cul-de-sac. In representing 바카라사이트ir own needs too ferociously, 바카라사이트 mission groups undermine 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, allowing whoever is in power to divide and rule. Amid recession and pre-election posturing, 바카라사이트 most vital task for universities is to convey to all political parties that "we're worth it". Does insistence that funding be concentrated reinforce this message? No, it implies that only a small proportion of 바카라사이트 sector is worth investing in. Politicians must be convinced that any money 바카라사이트y put into higher education is a good investment.

UUK has made a good start at making 바카라사이트 case with its recent report. But 바카라사이트 pressure is on: now more than ever, 바카라사이트 sector needs not only a single voice but a strong voice. Let's hope that UUK is up to 바카라사이트 job.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.