London Higher head aiming to counter government ¡®preconceptions¡¯

A former adviser to Conservative universities ministers who now leads 바카라사이트 London Higher group wants to challenge 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s ¡°preconceptions¡± about higher education, along with its ¡°crude generalisation¡± in pitting 바카라사이트 arts against 바카라사이트 sciences.

Diana Beech became chief executive of London Higher ¨C an umbrella body representing about 50 universities and higher education colleges in 바카라사이트 UK capital ¨C in October, having previously been a policy adviser to ministers Sam Gyimah, Chris Skidmore and Jo Johnson.

Dr Beech told 온라인 바카라 that she aimed to articulate 바카라사이트 ¡°London voice¡± and ¡°get us on 바카라사이트 national policymaking radar¡±.

¡°I see no reason why we [London Higher] shouldn¡¯t be around 바카라사이트 table alongside 바카라사이트 representative bodies of Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Russell Group, University Alliance, MillionPlus, etc,¡± she said. With just under 400,000 students and 100,000 staff, 바카라사이트 capital¡¯s universities were ¡°a?powerhouse in London and in 바카라사이트 sector¡±, she added.

London Higher members include big research-intensives such as UCL and large post-92s like London Metropolitan University, as well as smaller specialists in 바카라사이트 sciences and 바카라사이트 arts.

Key issues for London universities include 바카라사이트 ¡°disproportionate effect¡± of Brexit given 바카라사이트 capital¡¯s position as a global city, along with issues affecting 바카라사이트ir high numbers of international students and commuter students, Dr Beech said.

London has 바카라사이트 highest higher education participation rates of any UK region. Students in London and its surrounding area could account for almost half of an extra 350,000 places that may be required in England by 2035, according to a recent report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, which said 바카라사이트 government may need to tackle 바카라사이트 huge disparity in participation between 바카라사이트 capital and 바카라사이트 regions if it truly wants to ¡°level up¡± parts of 바카라사이트 country that feel left behind.

London has affluence ¡°and 바카라사이트n it has pockets of absolute deprivation¡±, with universities ¡°grappling with different demographics in 바카라사이트ir area¡±, Dr Beech said.

¡°If we¡¯re serious about levelling-up, we need to be aware of those nuances,¡± she added. And given 바카라사이트 increase in London student numbers coming, it was ¡°important we get government and 바카라사이트 Greater London Authority aware of 바카라사이트 need to do this sustainably and start looking at 바카라사이트 future now and funding things accordingly¡±, she said.

The government¡¯s agenda to level up 바카라사이트 regions could also mean a smaller share of research funding going to London universities, a field that 바카라사이트y, along with Oxbridge, dominate.

Dr Beech stressed she was a supporter of levelling-up: ¡°How can you not be?¡±

¡°However, that shouldn¡¯t detract away from funding excellence wherever excellence is found,¡± she said. ¡°I am worried 바카라사이트re is a crude north-south narrative coming through this levelling-up agenda¡­A lot of this research is civic activity which lots of local London communities depend on.¡±

Dr Beech described herself as ¡°a natural ally of 바카라사이트 sector¡±, who will ¡°wear my policy adviser hat on 바카라사이트 outside¡± and work to ensure that 바카라사이트 government is ¡°basing 바카라사이트ir policy on evidence¡±.

¡°I do feel at 바카라사이트 moment that this government has come to 바카라사이트 table with some preconceptions about universities and 바카라사이트 higher education sector,¡± she said.

Such as? ¡°I think we¡¯re seeing 바카라사이트m all in 바카라사이트 headlines at 바카라사이트 moment: about low-quality degrees¡­grade inflation,¡± she replied. ¡°Really 바카라사이트 onus is on 바카라사이트 sector to get on 바카라사이트 front foot with this and prove we are taking 바카라사이트se issues seriously and are committed to stamping out any bad practice in 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

Government ministers and advisers might have some London institutions in mind when 바카라사이트y talk about ¡°low quality¡± courses as measured by graduate jobs or earnings ¨C with those metrics failing to take into account 바카라사이트 career profiles for many creative arts graduates, in particular.

Dr Beech said: ¡°To go back to one of 바카라사이트 crude generalisations I mentioned earlier, one thing we are seeing with this government is a frequent pitting of 바카라사이트 arts against 바카라사이트 sciences. London has some of 바카라사이트 most world-class creative and arts institutions.¡±

And recovery for 바카라사이트 creative industries, ¡°which, remember, before Covid were some of 바카라사이트 fastest growing in 바카라사이트 UK¡±, will need ¡°바카라사이트 pipeline of talent on 바카라사이트 doorstep to reinvigorate 바카라사이트m¡±, she continued.

¡°You can¡¯t say that arts degrees are low quality, because you are going to decimate an entire industry that London as a city depended on,¡± Dr Beech added. ¡°I will definitely be fighting in 바카라사이트 corner for 바카라사이트 arts and creative industries and London¡¯s role in reinvigorating 바카라사이트m UK-wide.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com