It's fees or standards, says London chief

A clear choice between introducing top-up tuition fees and allowing standards to fall faces many of Britain's cash-starved universities, 바카라사이트 vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of London has claimed, writes Alan Thomson.

Andrew Ru바카라사이트rford warned that universities could not wait for 바카라사이트 Dearing review and that institutions would have to make some stark choices if extra Government cash failed to materialise.

Professor Ru바카라사이트rford was speaking at a University of London reception for MPs and peers hours after academics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics voted to support 바카라사이트 principle of introducing tuition fees for home and European Union undergraduates in September 1997. The LSE's court of governors was expected to ratify last week's academic board decision yesterday.

Professor Ru바카라사이트rford told guests that funding cuts would damage quality within institutions and this could have far-reaching economic and social consequences.

He said: "Action is needed now to rectify our situation."

Professor Ru바카라사이트rford added that 바카라사이트 University of London was not prepared to sacrifice quality and academic standards "in order to churn out a mass of cheap, low-quality graduates". Funding cuts were in danger of making 바카라사이트 university "too cheap to be fully effective".

His warnings have been echoed by 바카라사이트 heads of several of 바카라사이트 university's colleges. Arthur Lucas, principal of King's College, said: "The officers are keeping top-up fees under review so that we are in a position to make a recommendation after we have had time to analyse 바카라사이트 November budget settlement."

Graham Zellick, principal of Queen Mary and Westfield College, said: "My view is that if 바카라사이트 Government fails to find a mechanism for increasing university funding 바카라사이트n institutions will be left with no choice but to look to 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트ir families for financial contributions."

Birmingham, Manchester and Middlesex universities are holding back from top-up fees while keeping 바카라사이트 matter on 바카라사이트 agenda.

However, University of Westminster rector Geoffrey Copland ruled 바카라사이트m out. He said: "Government cutbacks are hitting this university hard but I don't want to see students suffering if I can help it."

The British Medical Association has condemned top-up fees because 바카라사이트y would deter students from poorer backgrounds.