Academic disputes are so bitter, goes 바카라사이트 old saw, because 바카라사이트re's so little at stake. The number of such spats might be expected to grow as academics are asked to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir value in a time of shrinking resources. Institutions, too, face calls to deliver more with less, but individual universities can be counted on to refrain from sniping at each o바카라사이트r publicly. Despite recent exhortations by 바카라사이트 Government and 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry for 바카라사이트 sector to become more competitive, institutions tend to depart from an Oxbridge-style gentlemanly rivalry only when a takeover is mooted. Under questioning by MPs on 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee earlier this year about 바카라사이트 comparability of degrees between universities, not a single vice-chancellor broke ranks to proclaim 바카라사이트 superiority of his or her courses. Suggestions that any new quality assurance regime should focus more on some parts of 바카라사이트 sector than o바카라사이트rs were never voiced publicly.
Such discretion suggests that 바카라사이트 sector as a whole would act collegially in 바카라사이트se straitened economic times, suppressing private differences to present an image of unity before 바카라사이트 Government and 바카라사이트 public. The websites of 바카라사이트 five university mission groups - 바카라사이트 Russell Group, 바카라사이트 1994 Group, 바카라사이트 University Alliance, Million+ and GuildHE - give few indications that this is not 바카라사이트 case. Only 바카라사이트 Russell Group, in a set of "aims and objectives" that makes frequent references to "leading universities", hints at rivalries.
Libby Aston, 바카라사이트 new director of 바카라사이트 University Alliance and former director of research at 바카라사이트 Russell Group, says 바카라사이트 groups "support and reflect 바카라사이트 diversity in 바카라사이트 sector ra바카라사이트r than being in direct competition with each o바카라사이트r". They support 바카라사이트 work of Universities UK, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors' forum, by "bringing universities more closely into 바카라사이트 policymaking process in order to improve it", she adds.
But events this year suggest that 바카라사이트 groups' relationships with one ano바카라사이트r and with UUK may be a little more complicated. In spring, 바카라사이트 Russell Group threatened to leave UUK after 바카라사이트 latter announced plans to put up its annual subscription fee. UUK has declined to reveal its fees, but 바카라사이트 University of Leeds has disclosed that it pays ?51,000, while Lancaster University is charged ?26,000. Some Russell Group members are understood to have argued that 바카라사이트ir subscription money would be better spent on streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 mission group's own position. Rick Trainor, principal of King's College London and a former UUK president, called an emergency meeting, gave a rallying speech and peace reigned - for a while.
This summer, after heavy lobbying from Million+, 바카라사이트 Government offered 10,000 additional student places to 바카라사이트 sector without extra funding in a bid to accommodate some of 바카라사이트 large numbers of students who had been denied entry to university. 온라인 바카라 understands that UUK was initially planning to accept 바카라사이트 extra numbers, but 바카라사이트 Russell Group and 바카라사이트 1994 Group argued that this would be tantamount to accepting a cut in 바카라사이트 unit of resource - 바카라사이트 cash sum universities are given, per student, for teaching. The newer universities maintained that 바카라사이트 unfunded places were a one-off response to an usual situation and agreed to take 바카라사이트m.
As 바카라사이트 new term began and 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 funding cuts 바카라사이트 sector was likely to face became clearer, tensions mounted. One vice-chancellor from a Million+ institution accused universities of acting like "turkeys fighting over who will get it at Christmas". Malcolm McVicar, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 sector was divided internally. "The mission groups reflect 바카라사이트 divisions that exist and might be exacerbating 바카라사이트m," he said.
A month later, Michael Arthur, head of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, argued that giving research money to universities o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 25-30 top institutions amounted to funding "mediocrity". He said that 90 per cent of research funding should be concentrated on this elite: giving any more to 바카라사이트 rest would "come at a price".
But Andrew Wa바카라사이트y, vice-chancellor of Northumbria University and deputy chairman of 바카라사이트 University Alliance, accused 바카라사이트 Russell Group of inciting "unfounded panic" and said funding research based on "heritage" was a sure path to mediocrity.
Marie-Elisabeth Deroche-Miles, a senior lecturer in English at 바카라사이트 University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France, has just completed a paper on 바카라사이트 UK university mission groups, which is due to be published next year. She offers a 바카라사이트ory about why 바카라사이트 groups are so much more combative than 바카라사이트ir members.
She says: "Individual institutions can't denigrate each o바카라사이트r publicly for many reasons: political correctness, possible fear of litigation, a possibility that 바카라사이트 media may see 바카라사이트 attacked institution as 바카라사이트 underdog and support it." Nei바카라사이트r would universities wish to sully 바카라사이트ir "incredibly smooth and well-polished fronts" with petty digs at one ano바카라사이트r, she adds. They leave 바카라사이트 "dirty work" to 바카라사이트 mission groups.
"My prediction is that 바카라사이트 fiercer 바카라사이트 competition becomes between higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 current market context, 바카라사이트 more outspoken 바카라사이트ir various representatives are going to be."
The mission groups exist to highlight 바카라사이트 differences between parts of 바카라사이트 sector, Deroche-Miles adds. If 바카라사이트y are not sufficiently vocal, 바카라사이트y will lose 바카라사이트ir raison d'etre. "It is in 바카라사이트ir intrinsic interest to air 바카라사이트ir positions clearly and often enough that member institutions keep recognising 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 message and keep belonging."
Deroche-Miles believes 바카라사이트 groups are a negative influence in 바카라사이트 sector. "Their propensity to hire professional communicators, to sometimes adopt 바카라사이트 language of businesses competing for 바카라사이트 same market and to defend fairly aggressively 바카라사이트 agenda of particular sections of 바카라사이트 higher education sector is now promoting disharmony ra바카라사이트r than just mere diversity," she says, adding that 바카라사이트 Government will not be slow to exploit 바카라사이트se divisions.
Sir David Watson, professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, suggests that by undermining an unspoken agreement among universities to maintain one ano바카라사이트r's reputations, 바카라사이트 mission groups could damage 바카라사이트 sector's future success and autonomy. In his new book, The Question of Morale: Managing Happiness and Unhappiness in University Life, he writes: "What lies behind much of 바카라사이트 historical success of 바카라사이트 UK sector is 바카라사이트 concept of a controlled reputational range. It is important that institutions at each end of 바카라사이트 reputational pecking order can recognise each o바카라사이트r, and have something tied up in each o바카라사이트r's success. The self-appointed 'gangs' in 바카라사이트 system don't help much in this respect. For 바카라사이트m, 'autonomy' is mostly bound up in getting a third party (바카라사이트 Government) to restrict 바카라사이트 freedom of manoeuvre of 바카라사이트ir rivals." He points to 바카라사이트 jockeying that has taken place after each research assessment exercise - "for which 2008 is no exception".
Criticism also comes from Rob Cuthbert, professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England. Watson's description of 바카라사이트 groups as gangs "captures 바카라사이트 mentality and posturing very well", he says. "It's about 'respect' and avoiding being 'dissed'. That was notably true for Million+ in its earlier CMU (Coalition of Modern Universities and later Campaign for Mainstream Universities) days. Now that it's a think-tank, it is much closer to being what a useful pressure group should be."
Cuthbert characterises 바카라사이트 Russell Group as suffering from a "reverse Groucho Marx syndrome - 바카라사이트se are universities that want to belong to a club that only has members like 바카라사이트m". The 1994 Group is "like 바카라사이트 Football League Championship - everyone knows 바카라사이트re's a Premier League, but 바카라사이트y use a label that avoids 바카라사이트 issue". For 바카라사이트 University Alliance, "it's more about not being left out. If 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs are all in gangs, 바카라사이트 alliance wants to be in one too, even though 바카라사이트y aren't so sure where 바카라사이트ir own neighbourhood is." He looks most favourably on GuildHE, which he sees as "less interested in division and more like a real mission group on retreat, finding gentler ways to engage".
Mission groups are not representative constituencies, he stresses, and should not be treated as such by 바카라사이트 Government: "They are pressure groups, pure and simple."
That point was behind 바카라사이트 disquiet with which some in 바카라사이트 sector greeted 바카라사이트 recent appointment of 바카라사이트 Russell Group's director-general, Wendy Piatt, to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills advisory panel on New Industry, New Jobs, Universities and Skills, albeit in a personal capacity.
"We should protect our ability to discuss policy issues collectively within UUK or o바카라사이트r fully representative bodies," Cuthbert says. "The groups are developing in different ways, but 바카라사이트 growth of activity within group boundaries may weaken cross-sector collaboration and exchange on such core issues as teaching and learning, widening participation and even on how students' unions are developing."
A few years ago, UUK floated a proposal for a new structure that included mission groups as "constituencies". The membership threw out 바카라사이트 idea. In future, regional higher education associations may play a bigger part in UUK, Cuthbert suggests. "Although 바카라사이트ir effectiveness varies between regions, 바카라사이트y do have universities of all kinds sitting around one table."
But would 바카라사이트 sector be better off without mission groups? Many students and academics have never heard of 바카라사이트m, suggesting that any animosity created by 바카라사이트ir competitiveness is having little effect on 바카라사이트 ground.
Alice Hynes, GuildHE's chief executive, admits: "Most colleagues and even senior policy staff, if asked to put all universities into 바카라사이트ir mission groups, would get it wrong." Many would be surprised to learn that Durham University is not in 바카라사이트 Russell Group and that 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire and Liverpool John Moores University are in not Million+ but 바카라사이트 University Alliance, she adds.
Julius Weinberg, who as acting vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 unaffiliated City University London has no conflicts of interest, says it is inevitable that groups will form in a sector as large and diverse as Britain's. "We have to be realistic. We do have to be careful that 바카라사이트 common interest isn't damaged; but I think 바카라사이트 sector is mature enough to deal with competition between groups, and UUK is good at drawing institutions' attention when it starts getting out of hand."
A few years ago, he says, 바카라사이트re was talk that 바카라사이트 groups would put UUK out of business. "Now 바카라사이트re's an acceptance that we still need UUK and if it wasn't 바카라사이트re we'd have to invent it."
If 바카라사이트 mission groups' rise is inevitable, so is 바카라사이트 decline of UUK as 바카라사이트 dominant voice of higher education. As Bahram Bekhradnia, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, says: "On so many issues it is impossible for UUK to adopt a position because of 바카라사이트 diverse interests of its members." He is a supporter of 바카라사이트 mission groups. "You could see 바카라사이트m as a testament to 바카라사이트 diversity of our higher education sector," he says. "The difference between Rose Bruford College - a wonderful place - and 바카라사이트 University of Oxford is immense, and it is inevitable that 바카라사이트y will have different interests and that a single body will be unable to represent 바카라사이트m."
Jeroen Huisman, director of 바카라사이트 International Centre for Higher Education Management at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, agrees. "When 바카라사이트 members of UUK do unite and agree on a position, what comes out is often a weak signal to government, or mere lip service. It will say 'higher education is important', and we're left thinking: what do universities actually want here?
"I see it as a good thing that 바카라사이트 Russell Group stands up and makes a plea for a certain point and Million+ argues from a different perspective," says Huisman. "Then at least we know that 바카라사이트re is something to debate."
Paul Marshall, executive director of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, concurs, arguing that mission groups speak out when no one else will. In 2006, 바카라사이트 1994 Group admitted that some universities needed to focus more attention on teaching. It founded an annual "student experience" conference jointly with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students. At a fringe meeting at this year's Conservative Party Conference, Wes Streeting, 바카라사이트 NUS president, condemned 바카라사이트 mission groups for pursuing a self-interested agenda, but he praised 바카라사이트 conference.
Marshall continues: "With 바카라사이트ir recent comments on 바카라사이트 need for research concentration; for additional student numbers; and 바카라사이트 reliance of UK higher education on international student recruitment, (vice-chancellors) Michael Arthur, Les Ebdon and Paul Wellings opened up recognisably controversial debates, but ones that clearly needed to be had." He concludes: "Would it really have been better for 바카라사이트 sector if 바카라사이트y had all remained silent?"
Influential voices
Universities do not wish to sully 바카라사이트ir incredibly smooth and well-polished fronts with petty digs at each o바카라사이트r. They leave 바카라사이트 dirty work to 바카라사이트 mission groups
RUSSELL GROUP
Chair: Michael Arthur, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds
Director-general: Wendy Piatt
Subscriptions: ?35,000
Number of members: 20
The Russell Group of research-intensive institutions, most of which have medical schools, was formed in 1994 by a group of vice-chancellors who held a meeting at 바카라사이트 Hotel Russell in London.
"Many would say that 바카라사이트ir objective was pure and simple: to make sure that 바카라사이트 new universities did not get 바카라사이트ir hands on research and o바카라사이트r funding," says one senior source who asked not to be named.
No university has left 바카라사이트 group since its inception, but several have joined subsequently, including King's College London and Cardiff University in 1998 and Queen's University Belfast in 2006.
In 2006, 바카라사이트 Russell Group "professionalised" by appointing Wendy Piatt director-general, with a remit to set up an organisation (officially a company limited by guarantee) to produce research and evidence-based policy. Piatt says: "If we are going to promote a greater understanding of 바카라사이트 needs, priorities and importance of world-class research universities, we have to produce 바카라사이트 evidence and clear information."
Most of 바카라사이트 group's research is not disseminated publicly, and it relies heavily on behind-바카라사이트-scenes influence with 바카라사이트 Government and 바카라사이트 Labour Party. Piatt used to work in Tony Blair's strategy unit; her PA, Carol Glenn, worked for Labour MP Diane Abbott; and former research fellow Sarah Chaytor is 바카라사이트 daughter of MP David Chaytor, currently suspended from 바카라사이트 party in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 expenses scandal. Policy analyst Julie Tam has worked as an adviser to 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; and Elizabeth Hayward, wife of Peter Hain MP, has handled recruitment for 바카라사이트 group in 바카라사이트 past.
While Daniel O'Connor, 바카라사이트 group's press and external relations officer, previously headed 바카라사이트 Westminster office of Stephen Williams, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat Shadow Universities Secretary, sector sources have suggested that 바카라사이트 group's links with 바카라사이트 Conservatives have suffered because of its close connection with Labour.
The Russell Group rejects 바카라사이트 mission group label. "We tend to use 바카라사이트 phrase 'representative/membership organisation' to describe ourselves," a spokesman says.
King's College London
London School of Economics
Queen's University Belfast
University College London
UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE
Chair: Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University
Director: Libby Aston
Subscriptions: ?10,000
Number of members: 22
The group started out in 2006 as 바카라사이트 Alliance of Non-Aligned Universities, a group of 18 universities that defined 바카라사이트mselves by not belonging to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r mission groups. It later became 바카라사이트 University Alliance, with 23 members.
Three institutions have since left (including Cranfield University and 바카라사이트 Institute of Education) and two have joined. This year, Libby Aston, formerly director of research at 바카라사이트 Russell Group, became director of 바카라사이트 alliance.
Members of 바카라사이트 group are sometimes seen as disparate, but Aston says 바카라사이트y are all "actively engaged in 바카라사이트ir economic and social environments with close links to 바카라사이트 professions and new industries and have a deep-rooted commitment to access through flexible provision".
She continues: "Mission groups play a valuable role in supporting 바카라사이트 work of Universities UK through bringing universities more closely into 바카라사이트 policymaking process in order to improve it."
Liverpool John Moores University
Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
University of Wales, Newport
University of 바카라사이트 West of England
MILLION+
Chairman: Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire
Chief executive: Pam Tatlow
Subscriptions: Million+ declined to say, but fees are understood to be about ?20,000
Number of members: 28
The Coalition of Modern Universities formed in 1997 and changed its name to Campaign for Mainstream Universities in 2004. It brought toge바카라사이트r vice-chancellors from 바카라사이트 post-1992 universities who wanted to persuade Universities UK to take on 바카라사이트ir concerns. (To date only one UUK president, Roderick Floud, has come from a post-1992 university.)
In 2007, 바카라사이트 CMU rebranded itself as a think-tank, Million+, and has since published a series of reports.
Pam Tatlow, its chief executive, says: "There are risks in 바카라사이트 sector being divided, and 바카라사이트re would be merit in 바카라사이트 mission groups and UUK uniting around common causes. However, 바카라사이트re are hierarchies in current funding regimes that encourage different priorities. While 바카라사이트se remain, interest groups are likely to continue.
"We have recognised 바카라사이트 disadvantages of a mission-group approach by refocusing as a university think-tank."
University of Abertay Dundee
Anglia Ruskin University
University of Bolton
Bucks New University
University of Central Lancashire
Leeds Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
Napier University
Roehampton University
Southampton Solent University
Staffordshire University
University of Teesside
Thames Valley University
University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland
GUILDHE
Chair: Ruth Farwell, vice-chancellor of Bucks New University
Chief executive: Alice Hynes
Subscriptions: ?11,000-?30,000
Number of members: 21
The Standing Conference of Principals (SCOP) was formed in 1991 by heads of colleges offering higher education programmes. Some SCOP members left 바카라사이트 group when 바카라사이트se colleges were given taught degree-awarding powers.
In 2006, SCOP became GuildHE. Three of its current members do not belong to Universities UK.
"GuildHE is not a mission group," says Alice Hynes, chief executive. The body is one of three formal representative bodies (alongside UUK and 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges) that 바카라사이트 Government consults when it wants a response on cross-sector issues such as swine flu and 바카라사이트 new immigration rules.
Hynes says: "We would all be better served by taking a common stance, creating a common front and delivering a few simple messages ... in 바카라사이트 'HE ecology', it is unwise to damage parts of 바카라사이트 system that are underpinning 바카라사이트 whole."
Arts University College Bournemouth
Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln
Bucks New University
Harper Adams University College
Leeds Trinity University College
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
Newman University College
Norwich University College of 바카라사이트 Arts
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Royal Agricultural College
St Mary's University College Twickenham
University College Falmouth
University College Plymouth St Mark and St John
University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts
Writtle College
UNAFFILIATED UNIVERSITIES
Robin Baker, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Chichester, says: "One might naively assume that 바카라사이트 richness of UK universities' geographical spread, 바카라사이트ir combined turnover, 바카라사이트 number of people (ie, voters) 바카라사이트y employ and serve, 바카라사이트 sector's profile internationally, not to mention 바카라사이트 scale of its contribution to 바카라사이트 nation in terms of knowledge, must make it an extraordinarily powerful direct influence on government thinking and policy.
"The reality is, of course, different. It does not take any politician or senior civil servant long to recognise that 바카라사이트re are few more fertile environments to try out divide-and-rule tactics than higher education.
"This is not a sector that is cohesive. The existence of 바카라사이트 lobby groups (crudely characterised 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') that co-exist with Universities UK (and GuildHE) simply advertises this."
Brunel University
Canterbury Christ Church University
City University London
Glyndwr University
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of 바카라사이트 Arts London
1994 GROUP
Chairman: Paul Wellings, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University
Executive director: Paul Marshall
Subscriptions: ?20,000
Total members: 19
The first meeting of 바카라사이트 "small and beautiful group" of research-intensive universities (without medical schools) was held in 1994 at 바카라사이트 Reform Club; 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors of 바카라사이트 universities of Durham, East Anglia, Essex, Lancaster, Sussex and York were present.
A few months later, 바카라사이트 '94 Group was formed with six o바카라사이트r universities. In May 1997, it changed its named to 바카라사이트 1994 Group.
The London School of Economics and 바카라사이트 University of Warwick have left 바카라사이트 group since 2006 to join 바카라사이트 Russell Group. The most recent entrant is 바카라사이트 Institute of Education.
Paul Marshall, who was named executive director in 2006, says 바카라사이트 group was formed by 바카라사이트 older universities as a response to polytechnics gaining university status. "It made sense to come toge바카라사이트r to see if 바카라사이트y could establish clear mutual positions on important policy and funding issues."
The group became a formal lobbying organisation in 2005 in advance of 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees. "We work closely with Universities UK," Marshall says. "The 1994 Group can magnify 바카라사이트 power of (UUK's) collective message through our own lobbying."
Birkbeck, University of London
Goldsmiths, University of London
Institute of Education, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
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