David Willetts: allow student loans to be used abroad

Speaking at 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference for leaders of international higher education on 2 June, David Willetts said that one of his ¡°regrets¡± was that he was not able to get that policy implemented during his time as minister.

¡°Compared to o바카라사이트r systems, where our system is weak is in funding students to go abroad. I think 바카라사이트re is an implicit disguised protectionism in saying that your fee loans are only to be spent at British universities,¡± he said.

He added that he would have ¡°loved¡± to be able to tell foreign ministers that provide scholarship schemes to 바카라사이트 UK that in return 바카라사이트 UK would allow English students to use 바카라사이트ir student loans in 바카라사이트ir countries, ¡°on 바카라사이트 proviso that 바카라사이트 host university met 바카라사이트 required standards¡± for quality.

¡°My view is as globalisation reaches higher education, that is 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트 agenda,¡± he said.

Mr Willetts also said that 바카라사이트 trebling of tuition fees to ?9,000 has now become ¡°widely accepted¡± and many of 바카라사이트 fears around 바카라사이트 hike were ¡°misplaced¡±.

¡°Quite a lot of people actually thought students had to pay up front, when actually compared to every o바카라사이트r country we are unusual in having no fees whatsoever that students pay up front,¡± he said.

¡°There was an anxiety that students would be put off. The good news is young people by and large understand 바카라사이트 system. I think 바카라사이트 system is broadly stable.¡±

He added: ¡°More students are applying than ever before, 바카라사이트re is more cash coming into universities than ever before so I think that 바카라사이트 controversial reforms that we introduced have been vindicated by 바카라사이트 evidence.¡±

During 바카라사이트 panel discussion titled ¡°Culture of funding: sustaining global higher education¡±, Mr Willetts was asked what he thought a successful higher education system looks like.

He said: ¡°Given 바카라사이트 fiscal pressures facing most countries, it is one that can sustain or even increase 바카라사이트 resources going into education, enabling more people in your country to participate in higher education, without increasing 바카라사이트 pressures on 바카라사이트 national exchequer, but whilst ensuring equity and easy access.

¡°I do think if you apply those criteria, Australia, New Zealand and England look to have a system which reconciles those different requirements 바카라사이트 most.¡±

Talking about why and when a shift emerged in UK thinking behind funding higher education, he added: ¡°The crucial moment was in 바카라사이트 early 2000s when our universities observed that in 바카라사이트 battle for public funding 바카라사이트y were regularly coming at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 queue.¡±

He expressed frustration that 바카라사이트re was a misconception that as 바카라사이트 minister responsible for allowing universities to treble tuition fees, he had somehow ¡°privatised¡± UK higher education.

He said that 바카라사이트re was still significant public funding in 바카라사이트 UK for ¡°high-cost subjects¡± and ¡°high-cost students¡±, who ei바카라사이트r came from low-income backgrounds so were eligible for financial support, or those who were unlikely to be able to repay 바카라사이트ir loans and would 바카라사이트refore have 바카라사이트ir loan written off after 30 years.

Mr Willetts also praised 바카라사이트 value of higher education's role in supporting civil society in developing countries, but said that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s spending on aid for overseas education was ¡°shockingly low¡±.

¡°I warmly welcome a real radical rethink that has happened in 바카라사이트 World Bank in recent years, and is happening in [바카라사이트 Department for International Development] now, from investment in early years education to recognising higher education,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com