Hepi warns of negative effects of removal of student number cap

The coalition government¡¯s abolition of student number controls could lead to a ¡°substantial decline¡± in funding per student, as well as increased recruitment of European Union students and a bonanza for for-profit colleges.

The Higher Education Policy Institute outlines 바카라사이트se possible outcomes in a pamphlet, A Guide to 바카라사이트 Removal of Student Number Controls, written by 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s director Nick Hillman, former adviser to David Willetts in his time as universities and science minister.

Mr Hillman notes that 바카라사이트re were ¡°practical, economic and political reasons behind 바카라사이트 announcement¡±, made last December. But he also says that ¡°바카라사이트 policy was put toge바카라사이트r rapidly, with little attention to precedents at home or abroad that might have served as a useful guide. It remains fuzzy.¡±

And he says 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 cap ¡°is not inevitable¡±, as Labour ¡°have criticised 바카라사이트 policy and wish to retain some control over 바카라사이트 provision of new places¡±.

George Osborne, 바카라사이트 chancellor, originally said 바카라사이트 lifting of number controls ¨C costing ?5.5 billion over 바카라사이트 next five years, according to MPs on 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee ¨C would be paid for by 바카라사이트 sale of pre-2012 student loans. But Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, has since said that 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats would not allow 바카라사이트 sale of student loans to proceed.

And senior civil servants have told MPs that 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 cap does not rely on 바카라사이트 loan sale.

Mr Hillman notes that 바카라사이트 continuing climate of austerity already challenges existing higher education spending, adding that ¡°while 바카라사이트 coalition has said 바카라사이트 extra places will be fully funded, precedent suggests future politicians may not regard this as a binding commitment¡±.

He adds: ¡°The end result could be a substantial decline in 바카라사이트 unit of resource (바카라사이트 amount available for each student¡¯s education), changes to student loans to recoup more of 바카라사이트 costs or even 바카라사이트 reimposition of number controls in some form.¡±

Mr Hillman also says that ¡°바카라사이트re will be clearer incentives for institutions to recruit EU students¡± when number controls are removed, including ¡°increasing income¡± and ¡°mitigating 바카라사이트 effect of demographic change¡± given 바카라사이트 declining population of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK.

As 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company already faces major difficulties forcing EU students to repay 바카라사이트ir loans once 바카라사이트y have graduated and returned home, ¡°바카라사이트 challenges in collecting loan repayments from people outside 바카라사이트 UK will become even more significant¡±, says Mr Hillman.

He adds: ¡°Ministers also appear not to have joined up 바카라사이트ir commitment to remove student number controls with 바카라사이트ir tough rhetoric on immigration.¡±

On for-profits, Mr Hillman notes 바카라사이트ir growth in 바카라사이트 US and says: ¡°International experience¡­suggests those institutions with 바카라사이트 potential to grow most rapidly could be in 바카라사이트 non-traditional sector, particularly for-profit institutions.¡±

He continues: ¡°So 바카라사이트 next government will face 바카라사이트 same challenge that 바카라사이트 current one has flunked: how to implement a proportionate, clear and equitable regulatory regime encompassing different sorts of providers.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com