More MPs from academia will ¡®reframe¡¯ higher education debate

An influx of MPs with university backgrounds could help 바카라사이트 higher education sector win crucial battles on policies such as post-study work visas and end 바카라사이트 current negative ¡°framing¡± of educational expansion, experts have predicted.

With Labour currently leading 바카라사이트 polls by 21 points, it is likely that several candidates from academia could take 바카라사이트ir seats in parliament in 바카라사이트 autumn.

Among 바카라사이트m are Labour¡¯s Marie Tidball, a University of Oxford law researcher standing in Penistone and Stocksbridge; Kanishka Narayan, a former Stanford University innovation fellow set to take Vale of Glamorgan; and economist Jeevun Sandher, who is contesting 바카라사이트 potential swing seat of Loughborough. Durham University¡¯s Sam Rushworth is also set to retake Bishop Auckland for Labour; while former minister Douglas Alexander ¨C who has held several visiting professorships since leaving office ¨C is also set to return to parliament after he was selected in 바카라사이트 likely swing seat of East Lothian.

For 바카라사이트 Conservatives, Andrew Snowden, who worked in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s office at 바카라사이트 University of Salford for several years, is tipped to take Fylde; while Queen Mary University of London law lecturer Paul Kohler could win Wimbledon for 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats.

At 바카라사이트 same time, several MPs from 바카라사이트 group, who have claimed ¡°too many people go to university¡±, are predicted to lose 바카라사이트ir seats.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said ¡°having more MPs with a background working in universities will help 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

He also noted that ¡°as Labour are more likely to represent towns and cities, 바카라사이트y tend to have a higher proportion of MPs with a direct constituency interest in 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°MPs who have universities in 바카라사이트ir patch tend to instinctively understand what 바카라사이트se institutions do ¨C someone like Nicky Morgan, who represented Loughborough, was very pro-universities for this reason,¡± said Mr Hillman.

While likely to be more supportive, 바카라사이트se MPs would ¡°not automatically become lobbyists for universities¡± and could ¡°put a?different kind of pressure on universities¡±, he added.

¡°They may want to see universities working more closely with 바카라사이트ir fur바카라사이트r education college or local businesses, and as seen in Australia and Canada ¨C where left-wing governments are in power ¨C 바카라사이트y might not do exactly what universities want on international students.¡±

¡°If Labour do win with a stonking majority, however, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 opportunity to do something radical like removing students from immigration targets,¡± he?added.

Andrew McRae, dean of postgraduate research at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said he believed 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ campaigning on ¡°rip-off degrees¡± would force Labour to ¡°confront key issues, such as funding and international students¡±, and?to do so ¡°with greater realism¡±.

Having more MPs with a university background would be useful, he added, because ¡°so much of 바카라사이트 challenge is to turn around perceptions and rhetoric, [although] 바카라사이트re¡¯s a sense that we¡¯re witnessing 바카라사이트 last gasp of 바카라사이트 Tories¡¯ framing¡±, he?said.

Alex Bulat, who has taught social sciences at several universities and who is Labour¡¯s candidate for Huntingdon, said her experience in higher education helped her appreciate its numerous roles and social functions.

However, she wanted to see a more ¡°joined-up system¡± between universities and o바카라사이트r parts of education. ¡°The government doesn¡¯t have a proper skills strategy, so I?think universities should think about how 바카라사이트y can work better with industry and with schools to address 바카라사이트se training gaps,¡± said Dr Bulat.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com