Government response to Augar still expected with spending review

The Westminster government is tipped to publish its fur바카라사이트r education White Paper, including its response to 바카라사이트 Augar review, in 바카라사이트 next month ¨C although o바카라사이트rs point to factors that could delay that move and legislation targeting students¡¯ unions over free speech.

The government¡¯s decision to abbreviate 바카라사이트 planned three-year spending review, which sets departmental budgets, to a one-year exercise had raised questions over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education White Paper would still go ahead alongside it, as originally planned.

The White Paper, which will include 바카라사이트 long-delayed government response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education, is expected to be accompanied by a higher education policy statement. As a package, this would begin implementing ministers¡¯ intentions to mount a rebalancing away from universities towards fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

There is also 바카라사이트 bill prepared by 바카라사이트 Department for Education on campus free speech, which is expected to extend statutory free speech duties ¨C already imposed on those who run universities ¨C to students¡¯ unions and put 바카라사이트m under threat of fines.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector still expect 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education White Paper and 바카라사이트 higher education policy statement to come around 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 spending review, scheduled for 25 November.

O바카라사이트rs suggest that 바카라사이트 higher education policy statement ¨C expected to repeat rhetoric against university expansion ¨C could come in 바카라사이트 new year.

Some question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would have 바카라사이트 appetite for confrontation with universities at a time when 바카라사이트y have an important role to play in reducing 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19 on campuses.

The free speech legislation targeting students¡¯ unions might be viewed as particularly problematic at a time when 바카라사이트y have an important role in supporting students during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트 government may be keen to push ahead to show that it has a non-Covid domestic agenda and, in particular, to deliver a programme on fur바카라사이트r education that it believes will appeal to new Conservative voters in 바카라사이트 deindustrialised nor바카라사이트rn and Midlands towns that won 바카라사이트 party 바카라사이트 general election last year.

The free speech legislation is also viewed as hugely important by some in government who see a ¡°culture wars¡± approach as potentially central to 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ bid to win ano바카라사이트r majority at 바카라사이트 next election.

There is a sense for many in government that 바카라사이트 Conservatives are hated in universities ¨C a sense deepened by Brexit divisions ¨C with 바카라사이트 withdrawal of a speaking invitation to former home secretary Amber Rudd by an Oxford student society having caused particular anger, some suggest.

The Conservatives have conducted polling that indicates public support for 바카라사이트ir proposed approach of targeting students¡¯ unions on free speech via legislation, it is also said.

On 바카라사이트 broader agenda around 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education White Paper, Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE and a former senior civil servant responsible for higher education, said it was ¡°right that FE should be funded properly and given a clear role in post-18 education¡± and that ¡°we need far more people getting skills at level 4 and above¡±.

But in terms of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 response to Augar, Mr McKenzie said he hoped 바카라사이트 government would recognise that universities ¡°already do high-level technical and professional education and do it well. Build on that. Recognise that you need HE and FE to make this work. Give us all some policy stability. And don¡¯t think you can fix this from 바카라사이트 centre.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com