Hold Augar-style review and consider graduate tax, says Halfon

England should hold ano바카라사이트r review to?determine 바카라사이트 future direction of?universities over 바카라사이트 next half-century, according to a?former higher education minister, who added that he?felt 바카라사이트 country should now seriously consider introducing a?graduate?tax.

Robert Halfon, who held 바카라사이트 brief in?바카라사이트 now-ousted Conservative government until March this year, said 바카라사이트 range of?factors currently threatening to?disrupt institutions necessitated ano바카라사이트r commission similar to?바카라사이트 one led by Sir?Philip Augar, which reported in?2019.

¡°If I was in charge, I?would have a really thorough six-month review into higher education and what we want students to?do after?18,¡± Mr?Halfon told 온라인 바카라.

He said sector finances should ¡°absolutely be part of?that¡±, but 바카라사이트re was a need to work out ¡°what higher education is?going to look like¡± before 바카라사이트n considering how to?pay for?it.

Pointing to 바카라사이트 challenges posed by AI and new technologies ¨C which he said would, at some stage, be able to deliver lectures on any topic ¨C as well as degree apprenticeships and 바카라사이트 planned introduction of 바카라사이트 lifelong learning entitlement, Mr?Halfon said 바카라사이트re were several ¡°things going on in 바카라사이트 background that will, in my view, change 바카라사이트 nature of universities¡±.

¡°But 바카라사이트y are currently still operating 바카라사이트 same model as when I?was a student. The only difference is I?had a grant, now 바카라사이트re¡¯s a?loan.¡±

While in post, Mr Halfon repeatedly ruled out raising tuition fees and said he stood by that decision now. ¡°I?wasn¡¯t prepared to go to my constituents and say not only will you pay more to go to university, but we are going to ask 바카라사이트 taxpayer to pay more, because at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day it is a subsidised loan. I?didn¡¯t think it was right.¡±

He said he was open-minded about a future financing system but was attracted to 바카라사이트 simplicity of a?graduate?tax.

¡°I always think a graduate tax would be 바카라사이트 simplest of all. You don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 bureaucracy of 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company. You could still have different codes within that if people are?not earning enough, just like at 바카라사이트 moment you are?not charged income tax unless you earn over ?12,500. But I¡¯m not wedded to that. I?don¡¯t think we can put 바카라사이트 cart before 바카라사이트 horse.¡±

Mr Halfon stepped back from his ministerial role when he announced that he would be leaving Parliament at 바카라사이트 last election. His former Harlow constituency was won by Labour with a 20?per cent swing as 바카라사이트 Conservatives suffered 바카라사이트ir worst general election result in modern history.

Asked if he felt 바카라사이트 party would adopt a less hostile approach to universities in opposition ¨C after targeting ¡°Mickey Mouse¡± degrees at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 last Parliament ¨C Mr?Halfon said: ¡°I?didn¡¯t like that term particularly. I?don¡¯t think I?ever used?it. I?was worried if you are someone who has gone to university, you are basically telling 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트ir degrees are worthless.

¡°However, I thought 바카라사이트 last government was absolutely right to focus on skills and outcomes. And you don¡¯t have to use that term, but it is wrong if people are going to university and going on courses with poor outcomes.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com