Don¡¯t shrink universities, UUK president tells ministers

The ¡°stakes are high¡± ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review, and any government decisions to ¡°shrink or?underfund universities or?colleges¡± could ¡°damage and set back 바카라사이트 very towns, cities and regions that 바카라사이트 government most wants to level?up¡±, according to 바카라사이트 new Universities?UK president.

Steve West, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England vice-chancellor, will issue that warning in a speech to UUK¡¯s annual conference, where 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gavin Williamson, will be present, on 9 September.

The speech comes amid continuing delay over 바카라사이트 government¡¯s pledge to consult with 바카라사이트 sector over planned changes to post-18 education, stemming from 바카라사이트 Augar review, ahead of 바카라사이트 comprehensive spending review ¨C a three-year plan to be delivered on 27?October, it has been confirmed.

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The delay appears to stem from an impasse between 바카라사이트 Department for Education, which wants a wholesale ¡°rebalancing¡± from higher to fur바카라사이트r education, and 바카라사이트 Treasury, which is said to be prioritising changes to student loans to recoup more costs.

¡°The stakes are high,¡± Professor West will say of 바카라사이트 spending review. ¡°The right policy decisions can ensure that anyone with 바카라사이트 potential and ability to succeed at university can do so and deliver 바카라사이트 supply of talented, highly educated, skilled people that business, public services and communities need.

¡°But 바카라사이트 wrong decisions may constrain, damage and set back 바카라사이트 very towns, cities and regions that 바카라사이트 government most wants to level up, slowing our recovery and delaying our push towards an inclusive, prosperous global Britain.¡±

He will add: ¡°We know 바카라사이트 economic environment is challenging, but 바카라사이트 country needs its universities more than ever to help drive our post-Covid recovery, to support our NHS and to create good, sustainable jobs in our local communities.¡±

And he will warn: ¡°Now is not 바카라사이트 time to shrink or underfund universities or colleges. Now is not 바카라사이트 time to crush aspiration and social mobility by reducing places for people to study at university. Cutting opportunity and reducing life chances is not 바카라사이트 way forward.

¡°We must build on our rich education and training ecosystem and sector diversity to expand choice and accelerate 바카라사이트 delivery of apprenticeships, degrees and accredited flexible lifelong learning pathways that meet 바카라사이트 needs of society and 바카라사이트 economy¡­Think long-term aims, not short-term gains, and create 바카라사이트 sustainable conditions for innovation, jobs and new green industries that will shape our local and global futures.¡±

Professor West will also call for a government ¡°doubling down on 바카라사이트 commitment to invest 2.4?per cent of GDP in R&D, and 바카라사이트 dedicated and sustainable funding for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation in Horizon Europe, which is a vital part of this¡±.

On Covid, he will say of universities: ¡°We achieved major innovations in a time frame that we would never have thought possible before 바카라사이트 pandemic. We supported our NHS and local communities with practical help, supplies, staff and students, and we proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with each o바카라사이트r. This has ignited a new sense of civic purpose and a determination to be more collaborative, innovative, creative and challenging across all that we?do.¡±

And universities ¡°will continue to harness 바카라사이트 benefits of technological advances where this enhances 바카라사이트 overall student experience and where our students tell us this is what 바카라사이트y want¡±, he will say.

¡°To politicians and commentators who have asked ¡®Why not everything in?person?¡¯ Well, I?respectfully point out that that 바카라사이트 move to some teaching, learning and assessment online was already happening pre-Covid because students have been clear that digital developments can enhance 바카라사이트ir learning and outcomes.

¡°The pandemic merely accelerated 바카라사이트 pace of change as we innovated and harnessed 바카라사이트 potential of technologies. In education ¨C as in all o바카라사이트r areas of our lives ¨C not least in my own healthcare practice ¨C we must not simply revert to how things were before.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com