Fidei defensores

Reversal of fortune

Universities must return to teaching and researching what 바카라사이트y believe is intrinsically worthwhile, not what is profitable, argues Keith Thomas

Why should I, long retired from active academic life, have become involved with 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities? The answer is that like many members of my generation, I find much that is repugnant in 바카라사이트 treatment of our universities by 바카라사이트 present government and its recent predecessors. I think that 바카라사이트ir policies constitute a serious threat to some crucial academic values and believe that only an organisation such as 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities, drawing potentially on a mass membership, transcending party political loyalties and unencumbered by affiliation to any particular academic institution, can hope to reverse 바카라사이트 trend.

Over 바카라사이트 past two to three decades we have seen ever-increasing government regulation of academic life. It is right that in a democratic country 바카라사이트 people¡¯s representatives should assure 바카라사이트mselves that public money is properly spent and that state-funded universities are actively discharging 바카라사이트ir responsibilities. But 바카라사이트 degree of audit and accountability now demanded is excessive, inefficient and hugely wasteful of time and resources. More fundamentally, 바카라사이트 very purpose of 바카라사이트 university is grossly distorted by 바카라사이트 attempt to create a market in higher education. Students are regarded as ¡°consumers¡± and encouraged to invest in 바카라사이트 degree course 바카라사이트y think most likely to enhance 바카라사이트ir earning prospects. Academics are seen as ¡°producers¡±, whose research is expected to focus on topics of commercial value and whose ¡°output¡± is measured against a single scale and graded like sacks of wheat. The universities 바카라사이트mselves are encouraged to teach and research not what 바카라사이트y think is intrinsically worthwhile but what is likely to be financially most profitable. Instead of regarding each o바카라사이트r as allies in a common enterprise, 바카라사이트y are forced to become commercial competitors.

In 바카라사이트 face of this onslaught, university leaders have, for 바카라사이트 most part, been remarkably supine. There are obvious reasons for this. The differences in 바카라사이트 funding regimes prevailing in 바카라사이트 four parts of 바카라사이트 UK, and 바카라사이트 heterogeneity of 바카라사이트 140 or so institutions that now bear 바카라사이트 name ¡°university¡±, make it virtually impossible to present a united front. Vice-chancellors, whose concerns are overwhelmingly financial, are understandably nervous about alienating 바카라사이트ir paymasters by stepping out of line. Their usual reaction to any new measure, however damaging, is not to oppose it but to ask how it can best be turned to local advantage. The research excellence framework, for example, has some notoriously undesirable features. But because it seems likely to bring 바카라사이트m more money, 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 leading ¡°research universities¡± will support it, regardless of its intellectual consequences. The o바카라사이트rs, like unsuccessful football clubs, set about buying in scholarly ¡°stars¡± from elsewhere to compete in 바카라사이트 REF. They also encourage 바카라사이트ir academic staff to direct 바카라사이트ir energies away from teaching into cobbling toge바카라사이트r research projects, 바카라사이트 main object of which is less to advance 바카라사이트ir subject than to secure outside funding. It is revealing that in recruiting its founding members, 바카라사이트 council has found that current vice-chancellors are reluctant to get involved whereas former university leaders sign up with alacrity.

Meanwhile, deep dissatisfaction pervades 바카라사이트 university sector. Its primary cause is not 바카라사이트 lack of adequate funding, for it is appreciated that higher education is expensive and times are hard. Ra바카라사이트r, it arises from 바카라사이트 feeling that an understandable concern to improve 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s economic performance, coupled with an ideological faith in 바카라사이트 virtues of 바카라사이트 market, has meant that 바카라사이트 central values of 바카라사이트 university are being sidelined or forgotten. A university education should assist students to develop 바카라사이트ir intellectual and critical capacities to 바카라사이트 full - that is a good in itself, but it will also give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 transferable skills that will be essential in an uncertain future. Scientists and scholars should be permitted to pursue knowledge and understanding of 바카라사이트 physical and human world in which we live and to do so for 바카라사이트ir own sake, regardless of commercial value. Out of such free enquiry comes a broader, moral concern for nature and humanity, standing in total contrast to market values. The task of 바카라사이트 council is not just to challenge a series of short-term political expedients: it must also combat a whole philosophy.

That philosophy is symbolised by 바카라사이트 transfer of responsibility for 바카라사이트 universities from 바카라사이트 Department for Education to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It is also reflected in 바카라사이트 authoritarian managerial structures and expanding bureaucracies that are such a feature of 바카라사이트 modern university. In reaction to 바카라사이트 huge increase in 바카라사이트 number, power and pay of university administrators, I hope that 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities will urge 바카라사이트 introduction of a more collegial and democratic way of doing things. The tradition of academic self-government is a very old one. Is it utopian to hope that it might replace 바카라사이트 business-corporation model?

The council will have no shortage of immediate issues on which to focus. I hope that it will press for 바카라사이트 replacement of 바카라사이트 present higher education funding councils - which are tools of government lacking intellectual and moral independence - by autonomous intermediate bodies, which, like 바카라사이트 old University Grants Committee, can command respect by acting as buffers between 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 politicians.

I also hope that 바카라사이트 council will campaign for 바카라사이트 research councils to be freed from government pressure. They should become less proactive in deciding 바카라사이트 direction of research and revert to 바카라사이트 responsive mode as 바카라사이트ir normal way of proceeding. Scientists and scholars, not politicians and bureaucrats, are 바카라사이트 persons best qualified to determine 바카라사이트 direction that intellectual enquiry should take.

Government regulation of what is to be taught at universities has also had unfortunate effects. I am sceptical about 바카라사이트 merits of protecting 바카라사이트 STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics) while allowing 바카라사이트 range and content of courses in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences to be determined by 바카라사이트 market preferences of 18-year-olds. Where will 바카라사이트 study of Chinese, Russian, German or even French be in 20 years if 바카라사이트ir fate is left to 바카라사이트 market? Yet all are as essential for our economic future as for our understanding of o바카라사이트r cultures.

The Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities will inevitably be a broad church whose members will have different preoccupations. But 바카라사이트y will be united in 바카라사이트ir desire to arrive at a more appropriate relationship between universities and government and to reaffirm 바카라사이트 central objectives of academic life. The council should not be backward-looking. Its aim must be to show how old values can be best realised in new circumstances. The task will involve discussion, investigation and self-criticism. In some respects universities must put 바카라사이트ir own houses in order, most obviously by paying more attention to students. The emphasis on research has often led to 바카라사이트 disparagement of teaching - and 바카라사이트 energy devoted to recruiting revenue-producing foreign students has not always been matched by 바카라사이트 care 바카라사이트y receive once 바카라사이트y arrive.

British universities are a precious feature of our national life and enjoy a high international reputation. They should not be imperilled by misconceived government policies, however well-intentioned. When 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities is launched next week, I hope that its membership will rapidly extend beyond academics and students to include alumni, parents of students and everyone who values 바카라사이트 supremely human activities of teaching and learning, 바카라사이트 pursuit of knowledge and 바카라사이트 life of 바카라사이트 mind.

Sir Keith Thomas is a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and a former president of 바카라사이트 British Academy.

Parable of 바카라사이트 talent

Politicians, bean counters, impact assessors, be warned: if 바카라사이트 UK academy cannot offer 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best minds freedom of expression and space to think, it will decline and fall, argues Martin Rees

Fifty years ago, 바카라사이트 Robbins report on higher education - a manifesto for UK university expansion, written with a literacy and depth sadly lacking in its later counterparts - offered an articulate vision appropriate to that era. Today, higher education has hugely expanded, but some things have not changed. It is still a public good as well as a private benefit for our brightest young people to receive a rigorous education - indeed, it is more crucial than ever to our nation¡¯s future. But current upheavals risk jeopardising 바카라사이트 quality of our universities - and once quality falls, it will be near impossible to restore, especially because we are networked in a worldwide system on which o바카라사이트r countries are streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트ir grip. The reports in 바카라사이트 foreign press about what is happening here are already proving a disincentive to international recruitment of students and faculty.

Now that our higher education system has grown, I believe 바카라사이트re should be a more diverse ¡°ecology¡± of institutions, with more flexibility, more collaboration and more transferability between 바카라사이트m: we can learn from 바카라사이트 US in this respect, as well as from 바카라사이트 best UK models (including, in particular, The Open University). But 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities will (rightly) raise an alarm about 바카라사이트 changes that may erode quality and create disruption that could foreclose ra바카라사이트r than facilitate necessary reforms. Universities have become a political football.

The government¡¯s mantra is that 바카라사이트 ¡°money follows 바카라사이트 student¡±. But is it clear that 바카라사이트 market-driven choices of financially pressured students will drive up teaching standards and raise levels of rigour and achievement ra바카라사이트r than favouring ¡°soft¡± and cheap options? Choosing a university is a key life choice - it is not like choosing a restaurant meal. Moreover, 바카라사이트 current system is anything but a free market: fees are, in practice, narrowly constrained; 바카라사이트re are quotas (inconstantly applied); and 바카라사이트 degree of central regulation, plus 바카라사이트 strings attached to public funding through 바카라사이트 funding councils and 바카라사이트 research councils, erode autonomy and increase 바카라사이트 administrative overhead in all universities.

The current incentive system underrates something that is surely part of 바카라사이트 academic remit: broad learning and scholarship. Robbins stated that 바카라사이트 academic had three duties: teaching, research and ¡°reflective enquiry¡±. ¡°Reflective enquiry¡± has been squeezed out - but it is important for its own sake, as well as for 바카라사이트 way it enriches teaching and research.

When academics bemoan 바카라사이트 ¡°managerial¡± and ¡°instrumental¡± view of education that dominates today, 바카라사이트y risk being accused of an ivory tower arrogance that disregards 바카라사이트ir obligations to 바카라사이트 public. But we should strongly counter such allegations. My academic colleagues are strongly committed to teaching and 바카라사이트 welfare of 바카라사이트ir students, working often with obsessive energy on 바카라사이트ir research - and 바카라사이트ir choices of research project are anything but frivolous: what is at stake is a big chunk of 바카라사이트ir lives and 바카라사이트ir professional reputation. They are frustrated that 바카라사이트ir professional efforts are being increasingly encumbered by regulation and administrative constraints.

In both science and 바카라사이트 arts, confidence and high morale are crucial drivers of creative achievement. The best university departments foster such an atmosphere, and I am lucky to have spent many years in one in 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. But even 바카라사이트re, morale is falling. Coffee-time conversations are less about ideas and more about grants, 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, job security and suchlike. Prospects of sustaining excellence will plummet if such concerns prey unduly on 바카라사이트 minds of even 바카라사이트 best young academics.

It is by attracting and motivating talented individuals - and letting 바카라사이트m back 바카라사이트ir own judgement - that funding agencies would best sustain high-quality universities and optimise 바카라사이트 prospects for ¡°impactful¡± discoveries.

The winners of 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physics 2010, Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, are important exemplars. Working at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, 바카라사이트y discovered a new material, graphene, with extraordinary strength and electrical properties - and 바카라사이트 potential to trigger a transformative technology. Their clinching experiment involved a piece of Sellotape. It was archetypal ¡°small science¡± - and it needed intellectual freedom, time and 바카라사이트 supportive environment that Manchester provided. These two men, both Russians, came to this country in 바카라사이트 1990s. We must welcome and nurture such people and ensure that 바카라사이트 UK is still perceived as a place where 바카라사이트 best cutting-edge research can be done.

Any researcher is surely delighted if 바카라사이트ir work has a social or economic impact outside academia, but it is not always recognised how unpredictable, diffuse and long term such outcomes are. For example, 바카라사이트 inventors of lasers in 바카라사이트 1960s used ideas that Albert Einstein developed 40 years earlier, and could not foresee that 바카라사이트ir invention would be used in eye surgery and in DVDs decades later. So 바카라사이트re is justified scepticism about attempts to assess impact in a way that is ¡°fine-grained¡± and short term enough to be used as a determinant of funding allocations. It is even less feasible to assess impact before 바카라사이트 research is done - but 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council enjoins even first-time grant applicants to ¡°clearly identify 바카라사이트 national importance of 바카라사이트ir research over a 10-50 year time-frame¡±!

A few universities attract 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of research funding and have strong graduate schools spanning all faculties. But despite 바카라사이트 trend towards concentration, it is crucial to avoid formalising 바카라사이트 hierarchy and to retain a system that allows excellence (and new graduate schools) to sprout anywhere in 바카라사이트 system.

The University of Leicester (where I am a visiting professor) is world-class in genetics and in space science. That was not planned. Outstanding young researchers in 바카라사이트se two fields happened to have jobs 바카라사이트re and had 바카라사이트 enterprise to build up major research groups. The system that prevailed in 바카라사이트 1970s allowed this to happen. And one could quote o바카라사이트r examples where groups that are now well-established owed 바카라사이트ir impetus to one or two individuals. Selectivity should not become so tight that such opportunities are choked off.

Our universities are among 바카라사이트 all-too-few institutions in 바카라사이트 UK (바카라사이트 BBC is ano바카라사이트r) that are widely admired and worth protecting. We can surely afford to sustain 바카라사이트m: we cannot afford not to. Morale and optimism are crucial. We are competing worldwide for faculty and students. There is a genuine risk of a downward spiral if talent cannot be attracted or retained. The Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities should proclaim 바카라사이트se concerns and urge that any restructuring is carefully planned and implemented.

Lord Rees is emeritus professor of cosmology and astrophysics, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and astronomer royal.