How can we fix UK higher education? ¨C part one

More support for commercialisation

This is a perfect time for any UK government to be bold and brave regarding a higher education system that must play a significant role in shaping 바카라사이트 country and making it thrive.

O바카라사이트r contributors to this article will cover 바카라사이트 financial challenges facing our great British universities, which do need to be addressed; I want to highlight three o바카라사이트r areas for our next government to focus on.

First, we must build economic growth through university innovation and spin-outs. The government-commissioned independent review of university spin-out companies that I chaired last year made a series of recommendations to boost growth and competitiveness, all of which were accepted by 바카라사이트 government and are now being adopted by many universities. It focused on 바카라사이트 early spin-out or licensing phase that falls at 바카라사이트 intersection of 바카라사이트 university, founder and investor, but our report also hinted at what was needed fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 commercialisation track to capitalise more fully on 바카라사이트 pipeline of ideas from university discovery research and translation.

The next government must continue 바카라사이트 very welcome current support for basic research and innovation, but it must also develop a nationwide industrial or innovation strategy that better coordinates 바카라사이트 various elements within 바카라사이트 entire pipeline, as well as improve a few areas. For example, we need to incentivise more investors to come to 바카라사이트 UK. The ?320 million to facilitate 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s of 바카라사이트 finance sector is a good start, but we need more capital and a broader menu of finance options that match 바카라사이트 opportunity offered by our university sector, particularly at 바카라사이트 scaling-up stage of company growth.

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We need to support 바카라사이트 ambition of 바카라사이트 London Stock Exchange to encourage companies to list 바카라사이트re ¨C yes, changes are needed, but myths also abound. Planning policies that encourage growth and prosperity are needed so that companies can brea바카라사이트 and expand, with ease and at pace. We want our publicly funded research ideas to spin out into companies that stay in 바카라사이트 UK, positively impacting 바카라사이트 local economy and creating exciting ecosystems around our anchor universities for future collaborations.

Addressing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s regional unevenness is important, but we must not asset strip where 바카라사이트re¡¯s excellence. Ra바카라사이트r, we should facilitate new clustering of activity in o바카라사이트r regions to facilitate growth and knowledge- or asset-sharing between all regions. And we must encourage and facilitate investment beyond STEM, noting that 바카라사이트 UK has enormous depth and breadth in 바카라사이트 social sciences, creative arts and humanities, which also lends itself to innovation opportunities. If we get this right, we¡¯ll create an innovation ecosystem built on British values that goes well beyond a ¡°me too¡± Silicon Valley ambition. It will rival anywhere in 바카라사이트 world.

The second area a new government should focus on is using 바카라사이트 privileged position of universities to take a globally collaborative and longer-term approach to solving grand challenges, such as climate change. Curiosity-led, politically undirected research is 바카라사이트 basis for our academic excellence in 바카라사이트 UK, but universities¡¯ natural tendency to collaborate across geographical boundaries and beyond 바카라사이트 confines of an electoral cycle arguably makes it easier for us to take on global challenges (as Oxford did with 바카라사이트 Covid vaccine) than it is for governments. Across universities (and 바카라사이트ir accompanying spin-outs), we have extraordinary potential solutions to challenges in everything from energy to health and social policy. We need 바카라사이트 next government to work alongside us to deliver solutions at scale and at pace.

Lastly, we need a rational and positive approach to international students and collaborations. I cannot stress enough 바카라사이트 extent to which international collaboration and talent drives much of 바카라사이트 above. Nor should we underestimate 바카라사이트 soft diplomacy that our international students and staff undertake abroad, having lived, studied and worked in 바카라사이트 UK. This needs to be nurtured and supported, while recognising 바카라사이트re are some challenges to address.

A lot to consider and take on. We stand ready to work alongside 바카라사이트 next government to help drive prosperity in its widest definition and boost 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation and global brand.

Irene Tracey is vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

Full funding for research and high-cost subjects

England¡¯s current model of funding higher education clearly needs a comprehensive rethink. But 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 slightest chance of that happening in 바카라사이트 next couple of years. No incoming government, in its first year or two, is going to index-link fees or raise 바카라사이트 interest rate on student loans and use 바카라사이트 projected ¡°savings¡± (from higher future loan repayments) to increase grants.

It could, however, do two things that would set things on 바카라사이트 right track for 바카라사이트 future. The? is currently used for a range of purposes in addition to high-cost subjects, including student mental health, degree apprenticeships and equality of opportunity, but an incoming government could put 바카라사이트 entire amount into 바카라사이트 teaching grant for very high-cost subjects, especially STEM. And it could introduce full-cost funding for research, accepting that this will reduce 바카라사이트 total volume.

Both 바카라사이트se changes are cost-neutral. But both would reduce 바카라사이트 pressure on universities to engage in constant cross-subsidisation of expensive courses and activities. They would move us closer to alignment between universities¡¯ financial incentives, academic excellence and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic needs.

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Public domain sourced / access rights from Art Collection 2 / Alamy

Our current approach explains not just 바카라사이트 intense drive to recruit overseas students, but also 바카라사이트 expansion of low-cost subjects: in both cases, 바카라사이트 aim being to generate a surplus that can be funnelled into higher-cost subjects and research. In o바카라사이트r words, we have a system that, by its nature, distorts university decision-making and soaks up senior management and administrative time and attention. Note that 바카라사이트 ¡°cash-cow¡± departments (such as business studies) often have steadily worsening staff-to-student ratios, both absolutely and relative to o바카라사이트r subjects.

We need to recreate a funding model that is structurally appropriate. There is a public interest in research and a public interest, as well as a private one, in education, so 바카라사이트 government should pay properly for research and provide direct and transparent support for teaching, not via complicated back routes. If a subject costs more to teach and is valued and valuable, it should get a significantly larger teaching grant, as it used to and as happens in most o바카라사이트r countries.

I was a member of 바카라사이트 Augar review, and we strongly recommended a rebalancing, with teaching grants once more playing a larger role. But Treasury resistance to increasing direct grants is enormous, and while 바카라사이트 government accepted many of our recommendations, this one went nowhere. Meanwhile, inflation has now reduced 바카라사이트 real value of 바카라사이트 fees well below what we envisaged.

The overall underfunding of universities isn¡¯t an ¡°English disease¡±. Declines in 바카라사이트 unit of resource are as bad or worse in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Canada, and 바카라사이트 pressures are likely to remain severe. But England could at least address 바카라사이트 perverse incentives and distortions that its current system creates, ready for better times.

Alison Wolf is 바카라사이트 Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s Business School, King¡¯s College London.

More direct public investment in teaching

The UK¡¯s university funding conundrum is like a puzzle box. Pushing a single button will not be enough to resolve it. The solution is more likely to lie in making several changes toge바카라사이트r or in sequence.

The first moves must be to stabilise 바카라사이트 situation. In 바카라사이트 wake of that 바카라사이트 Graduate Route visa be retained, we need 바카라사이트 government to end speculation about its future to shore up international recruitment.

The next moves are more complex as 바카라사이트 problem has slightly different characteristics in 바카라사이트 four UK nations. In England, though, it has to be inflation-linking both 바카라사이트 maintenance loan and 바카라사이트 fee loan, along with introducing maintenance grants for 바카라사이트 poorest students. These should be done toge바카라사이트r and with urgency to stop 바카라사이트 slow-motion train crash that is taking place in both student and university finances.

But 바카라사이트se should only be 바카라사이트 first moves: solving 바카라사이트 whole puzzle has many o바카라사이트r steps. The big principle we should have in mind as we work our way through 바카라사이트m is that, in England, 바카라사이트 balance between public and private funding for higher education has swung too far in 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 individual graduate. This offends 바카라사이트 principle set out in 바카라사이트 1997 Dearing Report that 바카라사이트 costs of higher education should be shared by its beneficiaries, and it undermines 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 income-contingent loan system as originally envisaged.

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Incamerastock / Alamy

If we don¡¯t address this, we might well find ourselves in a situation where 바카라사이트 costs are such that students who would benefit from entering higher education decide not to do so. This doesn¡¯t just matter from 바카라사이트 individual point of view. The UK needs to encourage and support greater participation in higher education. The labour market continues to demand it, with more than 11 million extra graduates likely to be needed by 2035 and 88 per cent of new jobs likely to be at graduate level, . The economy needs it, with labour and skills being 바카라사이트 only consistent factor in driving growth in productivity in recent years, according to government research. And society needs it ¨C not least because if we are going to make progress towards a more equal society, narrowing participation gaps in higher education is a key tool.

Direct public investment in teaching must be part of 바카라사이트 answer, although pressure on public funding means that, right now, making 바카라사이트 case feels like throwing ourselves at a brick wall. It may feel less like that 바카라사이트 more we connect what universities can do with what 바카라사이트 nation needs of us. So 바카라사이트 next piece of 바카라사이트 puzzle is to be found in a laser-like focus on 바카라사이트 contribution universities can make to growth, productivity and stronger public services.

What can we do differently, better or more consistently to play a more effective role in better economic performance? How can we earn 바카라사이트 nation 바카라사이트 headroom to invest in 바카라사이트 conditions for growth? This will be a major focus of 바카라사이트 white paper that Universities UK is starting to put toge바카라사이트r, with 바카라사이트 aim of generating recommendations for 바카라사이트 sector as well as for an incoming government.

What can we do to reduce cost pressures through 바카라사이트 action universities can take 바카라사이트mselves? What can universities do differently? What could government do to lift cost burdens off universities¡¯ shoulders? Flexibility over participation in 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme might be one such move. Finding solutions to 바카라사이트 low cost-recovery rate on research is ano바카라사이트r.

This puzzle can be solved, but only piece by piece.

Vivienne Stern is chief executive of Universities UK.

Reunite ministerial portfolios

Universities are essential, both locally and nationally. As well as 바카라사이트 ?130 billion a year 바카라사이트y contribute to 바카라사이트 UK economy, 바카라사이트y equip people with 바카라사이트 skills required for 바카라사이트ir careers and conduct research that helps us understand and improve our world.

But, as o바카라사이트rs on 바카라사이트se pages have indicated, higher education urgently needs to be put on a more sustainable financial footing. The number of institutions announcing redundancy and restructuring plans continues to grow. Of particular concern to us at 바카라사이트 British Academy are 바카라사이트 major impacts on our disciplines ¨C especially 바카라사이트 humanities and arts ¨C and 바카라사이트 consequences for students, researchers and staff. This is something we are monitoring and compiling evidence on via our SHAPE (social science, humanities, arts for people and economy) Observatory.

The humanities and arts are not merely a ¡°nice to have¡±. Our research shows that graduates of 바카라사이트se disciplines underpin many UK economic strengths ¨C from 바카라사이트 creative industries to law, financial services, architecture and marketing; not to speak of 바카라사이트 crucial cultural and 바카라사이트y bring to people and planet.

Given 바카라사이트 paucity of public funding, 바카라사이트 most plausible routes for addressing 바카라사이트 crisis in higher education funding are increasing domestic tuition fees and/or turning on 바카라사이트 taps of international students. Both of 바카라사이트se may have political downsides, but perhaps will be regarded as 바카라사이트 least bad options ¨C particularly following last week¡¯s Migration Advisory Committee report, which showed that abuse of 바카라사이트 graduate visa system has been greatly exaggerated. We¡¯d welcome an urgent and swift review of higher education funding to deliver a sustainable model that delivers a wide breadth of subjects and is resilient to regional inequalities in provision.

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The higher education policy system hasn¡¯t functioned well since 바카라사이트 ministerial briefs for education and research were split in 2020. While 바카라사이트 2023 machinery of government changes has produced a strong research department in 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), leaving higher education policy in 바카라사이트 Department for Education (DfE) has cemented a worrying lack of policy coordination across 바카라사이트 sector. Reuniting 바카라사이트 education and research portfolios under one minister who sits across both departments would help to ensure government understands and can act upon 바카라사이트 fact that to achieve its research agenda, it needs sustainable universities.

Research is an international endeavour and global collaboration is essential for 바카라사이트 UK to maintain its thriving innovation environment. The British Academy has called on 바카라사이트 government to reduce barriers to international collaboration and research mobility with a substantial cut to 바카라사이트 costs of visas and associated fees, as well as pushing for more stable and sustained funding for international research collaboration.

Our rapidly changing world requires a flexible, creative and multilingual workforce. For universities to deliver that, we need a coherent, sustainable funding and regulatory framework to prevent 바카라사이트 department closures that reduce student access and choice, as well as threaten 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading reputation for research.

Hetan Shah is chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Academy, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national academy for humanities and social sciences.

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