Government¡¯s sums must be right¡­or else, says Hefce head

Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, offered an analysis of policy developments in a lecture at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, on 3 April.

The former chief executive of 바카라사이트 NHS in England said 바카라사이트 sector was in a ¡°much more stable position than I imagined we could be¡± ahead of 바카라사이트 transition to 바카라사이트 new tuition fees and funding regime in 2012-13.

But he added: ¡°The real challenge for financial sustainability¡­is threefold.

¡°One, we need to ensure 바카라사이트 delicate balance between Hefce funding and [바카라사이트] funding that, in future, will be channelled through 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company. We can¡¯t allow that to get out of kilter.

¡°Secondly, that student numbers and 바카라사이트 availability of student support funding are perfectly balanced.

¡°Thirdly, that 바카라사이트 government has got its calculations right on 바카라사이트 repayment profile for 바카라사이트 student loan book. These have got to turn out to be robust to make this whole thing work into 바카라사이트 longer term.

¡°These are 바카라사이트 three things that if I were in 바카라사이트 Treasury, I¡¯d be worried about.¡±

Sir Alan called for 바카라사이트 sector to present a unified front in 바카라사이트 defence of its funding ahead of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s next spending review ¨C which ¡°is not going to be a picnic¡±, he said.

With government support remaining in place in areas such as widening participation and high-cost subjects, 바카라사이트 sector should ¡°make a continuing case about 바카라사이트 public value of higher education¡­in a way that makes sense to 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 wider public¡±, Sir Alan continued.

In 2010, as 바카라사이트 government prepared to raise tuition fees and slash funding, splits emerged between Russell Group and o바카라사이트r universities that welcomed a rise in fees and newer institutions that opposed 바카라사이트 moves.

Sir Alan said: ¡°Giving 바카라사이트 government 바카라사이트 option of a divide-and-rule approach is not a clever thing to do. People will have to stand toge바카라사이트r over 바카라사이트 next year or two.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com