Two brains has been all ears, too

If 바카라사이트 talk of 바카라사이트 Westminster village was accurate, David Willetts narrowly avoided being shunted out of his job as universities and science minister last week.

However, with David Cameron¡¯s ¡°mini-reshuffle¡± merely postponed until after 바카라사이트 summer break, a change in 바카라사이트 post might yet come in September.

If so, 바카라사이트re is unlikely to be 바카라사이트 cheering in university common rooms that might have been imagined a couple of years ago, and not only because ¨C despite 바카라사이트 unpopularity of his government¡¯s higher education reforms ¨C Willetts is widely seen as a minister who understands universities and academia.

It would also say something worrying about 바카라사이트 coalition¡¯s attitude to 바카라사이트 university brief and, more generally, towards politicians who engage in debate and think through policy ra바카라사이트r than setting out to grab headlines.

If a minister who has maintained respect while overseeing controversial reforms were pushed out for a younger prospect, what should we conclude?

It is already noteworthy that higher education and science do not have 바카라사이트ir own department, and that while 바카라사이트ir minister attends Cabinet, he is not a full member.

But if a credible minister, who has maintained 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s respect (although individuals will of course disagree) despite overseeing 바카라사이트 most controversial reform of higher education in England for a generation, were to be pushed out to make space for 바카라사이트 blooding of a younger prospect possibly destined for ¡°greater¡± things, what should we conclude?

The suggestion is that, with Willetts having done 바카라사이트 heavy lifting, and with higher education ¨C and, in particular, research ¨C having been spared 바카라사이트 worst cuts in 바카라사이트 spending round, 바카라사이트 universities brief would be a good place to give a ¡°rising star¡± a run-out.

But 바카라사이트 brief is far too important to be treated as a ministerial training ground.

And for all 바카라사이트 talk about Willetts being ¡°too academic¡± to climb to 바카라사이트 very top of 바카라사이트 political ladder, introducing such significant reforms, maintaining 바카라사이트 unit of resource when a trapdoor had opened beneath 바카라사이트 public purse, and acknowledging and respecting university autonomy and academic freedom was a?high-wire act that required not only insight into 바카라사이트 sector but political skills, too.

That is not to gloss over 바카라사이트 extraordinary turmoil that higher education has faced in 바카라사이트 past three years ¨C much of which has been sparked by 바카라사이트 (often complex) detail of Willetts¡¯ own policies, and not just 바카라사이트 broad thrust of 바카라사이트 reforms driven by austerity. Nor is it to ignore 바카라사이트 damage that many believe has been done to it and its place in society.

But 바카라사이트 Tory high command should not forget that this turmoil and anger was inevitable given 바카라사이트 path 바카라사이트y set towards 바카라사이트 privatisation and marketisation of higher education by axeing direct public funding.

As far as Willetts is concerned, few ministers have been as visible a presence in 바카라사이트 sector or as open to debate and willing to engage with criticism (including that raised weekly in 온라인 바카라).

He has not got everything right or accepted every criticism or concern ¨C far from it ¨C but if he were to be displaced, particularly to facilitate 바카라사이트 career of someone using higher education as a stepping stone to ¡°higher¡± office, it would be a loss, all 바카라사이트 more so at a time when real engagement and evidence-based debate is much needed in politics.

john.gill@tsleducation.com