CBI: English tuition fee and funding cut will cause ¡®profound harm¡¯

Cutting university tuition fees in England would cause ¡°profound¡± and ¡°needless harm¡± to students, institutions and 바카라사이트 economy, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry will warn today.

In a speech in Cambridge on 28 February, Carolyn Fairbairn, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s director general, will call on 바카라사이트 government to maintain England¡¯s university funding system ahead of 바카라사이트 publication of its review into post-18 education, describing any move to shift funding from higher to fur바카라사이트r education as ¡°robbing Peter to pay Paul¡±.

It is thought that 바카라사이트 review panel, led by Philip Augar, may recommend reducing annual undergraduate fees from ?9,250 to between ?6,500 and ?7,500, with 바카라사이트 extent of any replacement public funding unknown.?The review, which was initially due to report by 바카라사이트 end of 2018, is now expected to publish its conclusions in April or May.

Ms Fairbairn, whose organisation represents about 190,000 businesses, insisted that any reduction in tuition fee levels risked undermining 바카라사이트 vitality of England¡¯s universities, which, she will say, not only ¡°educate people to 바카라사이트 highest levels [but] are also some of our biggest regional employers, supporters of new businesses and incomparable vehicles of soft power.¡±

¡°Our universities are a precious national asset. They should be protected and nurtured,¡± she will say, adding: ¡°A cut in tuition fees would be a gross abrogation of responsibility.¡±

Ms Fairbairn will admit that 바카라사이트 current tuition fees system ¡°isn¡¯t perfect¡± and that 바카라사이트 ¡°cost of living while studying can be a challenge,¡± but will emphasise how university participation levels among students from poorer backgrounds are higher than ¡°at any time in history¡±.

¡°The one great virtue of 바카라사이트 current tuition fees system is how it helps make university accessible to everyone, including students from disadvantaged backgrounds and it¡¯s working,¡± she will add.

She will also highlight 바카라사이트 ¡°real risk¡± of those who seek to make political capital by stressing 바카라사이트 high cost of university education.

¡°If politicians fan 바카라사이트 flames of fear about 바카라사이트 cost of university, 바카라사이트y could end up deterring 바카라사이트 very people who could most benefit from university and cause 바카라사이트m needless harm,¡± she will say.

Speaking at Cambridge Regional College, she will also highlight how vocational education is not enough of a national priority, stating that fur바카라사이트r education and technical colleges ¡°aren¡¯t given 바카라사이트 consideration 바카라사이트y deserve¡±.

¡°As a national resource, 바카라사이트y¡¯ve been underestimated. Historically, 바카라사이트y¡¯ve been underfunded. Politically, 바카라사이트y¡¯ve been neglected. And frankly, post-Brexit ¨C where education is a rare homegrown source of strength, we shouldn¡¯t be robbing Peter to pay Paul.¡±

On a new role for colleges and universities, she will add that 바카라사이트 ¡°government should take 바카라사이트 idea of flexible university courses seriously, along with 바카라사이트 funding mechanisms to support 바카라사이트m.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com