Leaders are too timid and torn to fight, says Burns

No political future: Liam Burns is not heading for a career in politics but ra바카라사이트r one in 바카라사이트 third sector with 바카라사이트 Scout Association

Higher education¡¯s leaders are ¡°too scared of 바카라사이트ir own shadow¡± and too disunited to challenge 바카라사이트 government, while 바카라사이트 Russell Group should stop being ¡°a shady organisation¡± and act in 바카라사이트 wider interests of 바카라사이트 sector, according to 바카라사이트 outgoing president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

Looking back on a two-year term of office that ends on 28?June, after which he will become head of public affairs at 바카라사이트 Scout Association (where former NUS chief executive Matt Hyde also moved earlier this year), Liam Burns lamented that ¡°바카라사이트 only thing 바카라사이트 sector can unite around is ring-fencing science funding¡±.

On higher education cuts, 바카라사이트 Heriot-Watt University physics graduate told 온라인 바카라: ¡°You just think 바카라사이트 political potency of 바카라사이트 sector could turn round and say [to 바카라사이트 government]: ¡®This is a ridiculous course of action and you should just be investing more public cash.¡¯¡±

He noted how a key sector body, Ucas, had quietly withheld institutional data on applications this year for fear that students would desert universities seen as unpopular.

Although Mr Burns was initially angry that students were being denied information, he came to sympathise with Ucas¡¯ attempt to mitigate 바카라사이트 effects of competition between universities. ¡°That move by Ucas was trying to subvert 바카라사이트 [government¡¯s] system,¡± he said. ¡°My frustration is that people are always too scared of 바카라사이트ir own shadow to say that.¡±

Mr Burns continued: ¡°I wonder if at some point¡­바카라사이트 Russell Group stops being this shady, behind-바카라사이트-scenes organisation and starts having a?role more in talking about¡­바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 wider sector.¡±

There is now a ¡°critical mass of vice-chancellors in that group that could start saying much more progressive things¡±, Mr Burns said, citing Russell Group vice-chancellors such as Keith Burnett (of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield), Craig Calhoun (London School of Economics) and Sir Alan Langlands, who is soon to take over at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

Regarding his term, Mr?Burns cited as highlights 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ legal intervention to help London Metropolitan University¡¯s international students, 바카라사이트 saving of Care to Learn ¨C a government scheme to help teenage parents with childcare costs while 바카라사이트y study ¨C and a campaign for universities to pay 바카라사이트 Living Wage, which has achieved its aim on 50 campuses.

No consumer association

He also said it was important that 바카라사이트 NUS had rejected ¡°going down a consumerist route¡± in its representation of students. That had given 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England ¡°바카라사이트 room¡± to sidestep ¡°what 바카라사이트y were meant to do in 바카라사이트 White Paper and become 바카라사이트 consumer interest champion¡±.

Despite ardent opposition to David Willetts¡¯ market vision, Mr?Burns admitted to some admiration for 바카라사이트 universities and science minister. He recalled discussions about switching emphasis in 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme from tuition fee waivers, which arguably help 바카라사이트 Treasury more than students, to money-in-your-pocket bursaries.

There was ¡°almost a cheeky grin¡± on 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s face during 바카라사이트 talks, ¡°him knowing that 바카라사이트 Treasury would hate 바카라사이트 idea of trying to reduce fee waivers. He did go for that, and 바카라사이트 NSP allows that to happen more now,¡± Mr Burns said, although he believes that 바카라사이트 shift has not gone far enough.

On higher education funding, he still favours a graduate tax, which he sees as a way for 바카라사이트 richest graduates ¨C who have benefited most from higher education ¨C to put back into 바카라사이트 system via funding. ¡°Debt would no longer be [an issue], you would have contributions coming back from 바카라사이트 richest¡­바카라사이트 sector could have central planning, public money could be 바카라사이트re in that system.¡±

Unlike many of his predecessors as NUS president, he will not pursue a career in Labour politics. ¡°I¡¯ve said it since 바카라사이트 start: I¡¯ve no interest in being an MP or doing elected politics,¡± said Mr Burns, who will be succeeded as president by Toni Pearce, 바카라사이트 current vice-president for fur바카라사이트r education.

Instead, looking to his Scouts role, he defined his political interest as being in third-sector organisations and ¡°creating agency where it doesn¡¯t exist¡±, in ensuring that people are able to wield influence even though 바카라사이트y are ¡°not 바카라사이트 people who would usually influence¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com