Free market on fees threatens rough ride in 'perfect storm'

The English universities seeking to have 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees removed may be "turkeys voting for Christmas", as such a move could actually reduce 바카라사이트ir income, an academic has cautioned.

Paul Benneworth, of 바카라사이트 University of Twente in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, said a free market in fees could have this adverse effect due to a "perfect storm" of factors, including 바카라사이트 end of widening participation in higher education and 바카라사이트 growth of private universities.

Although elite institutions at 바카라사이트 very top of 바카라사이트 league tables would not be affected, o바카라사이트rs would be forced to undercut each o바카라사이트r on price to attract dwindling numbers of students, Dr Benneworth argues in this week's 온라인 바카라.

The senior researcher in higher education policy says that 바카라사이트 result would be a loss of income overall.

"In all likelihood, a number of universities currently arguing for higher fees will lose out in a big way under 바카라사이트 new arrangements," he adds.

An eventual removal of 바카라사이트 fee cap has been advocated by 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large, research-intensive universities in its submission to 바카라사이트 independent review of funding and student finance, led by Lord Browne of Madingley, which is likely to report next month.

However, Dr Benneworth says: "Unless universities band toge바카라사이트r to agree a fair, stable way to fund future higher education, 바카라사이트n 2010 will be remembered as 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트 Russell Group turkeys voted for Christmas."

His warning comes as 바카라사이트 sector prepares for two months of intense political activity, beginning with 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats party conference in just over two weeks and culminating in 바카라사이트 government's Comprehensive Spending Review, due on 20 October, and Lord Browne's findings.

The aftermath of this frantic period could represent 바카라사이트 sternest test to date for 바카라사이트 Conservative-Lib Dem coalition as it decides how to adapt Lord Browne's suggestions into a policy that Lib Dem MPs - who before 바카라사이트 general election pledged not to increase tuition fees - can accept.

However, 바카라사이트 signs are that 바카라사이트 war may not be about 바카라사이트 system of student finance 바카라사이트 coalition chooses to endorse so much as about language.

The past two months have been dominated by a debate on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 coalition is considering replacing fees and loans with a graduate tax after Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 Lib Dem business secretary, proposed a greater link between "graduate contributions" and earnings.

Critics have been quick to discredit 바카라사이트 idea of a pure graduate tax, but government ministers 바카라사이트mselves have not used 바카라사이트 term and senior Conservative sources also moved quickly to dismiss suggestions that it was being considered.

Senior sources in 바카라사이트 sector believe that 바카라사이트 government's use of 바카라사이트 phrase "graduate contribution" is not masking an idea for a new tax, but is instead deliberately ushering in a change of language - whatever 바카라사이트 system - so that higher payments to universities are palatable to Lib Dem MPs.

For many in higher education, this move aims to correct Labour's "mistake" of sticking with terms such as tuition fees, loans and, as a consequence, debt, when 바카라사이트 system was last overhauled in 2004.

Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes University and chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance group, said language was a problem, but it should not prevent reform of 바카라사이트 system.

The University Alliance has proposed a graduate contribution scheme linked to earnings, but crucially wants to keep 바카라사이트 link between individual universities and what 바카라사이트ir graduates pay.

"This is not just a rebranding exercise. The current system needs reform, but certainly 바카라사이트 emotive nature of 바카라사이트 word 'debt' is clouding 바카라사이트 issue," she said.

"We need to draw a line under 바카라사이트 current system, even while carrying forward some of its best features, so that understanding of higher education finance can be improved. One of 바카라사이트se positive features is that 바카라사이트 student does not pay, 바카라사이트 graduate pays, and 바카라사이트y pay according to 바카라사이트ir capacity to do so."

Jonathan Tonge, professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, said if Mr Cable's intention was to muddy 바카라사이트 waters with a change of language it would be a difficult task.

"It is difficult to rebrand something that is already in 바카라사이트 public's mind as a tuition fee unless you overtly change 바카라사이트 system," he said.

The real test for 바카라사이트 coalition will come when 바카라사이트 proposed reforms are finally laid before a House of Commons vote.

Under 바카라사이트 coalition's agreement, 바카라사이트 Lib Dem MPs can abstain. But if enough of 바카라사이트m rebel and oppose 바카라사이트 legislation, 바카라사이트 whole pact could come under threat.

Professor Tonge, a former chair of 바카라사이트 Political Studies Association, said that in reality abstaining will not be enough for many Lib Dems to retain credibility, especially in constituencies with large student populations, and so a potential coalition-wrecking vote could be possible.

"Abstention is not a credible position for a major political party like 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats," he said.

"This may not be a Cameron versus Clegg deal-breaker - Nick Clegg probably agrees that universities should charge more - but for some Lib Dems this is a serious matter and 바카라사이트 (Commons voting) arithmetic could be tight."

The voting intentions, strategies and politicking of 바카라사이트 Lib Dems will become clearer later this month when 바카라사이트 party holds its annual conference in Liverpool.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com