Name: DIUS. Year: 1. Shows willing but could do better ..

"The scale of 바카라사이트 Government's ambitions for what our department needs to achieve have been clear from 바카라사이트 very first day of our existence," Ian Watmore, chief civil servant at 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, says in a report assessing DIUS's first year.

No less than 바카라사이트 nation's economic prosperity and social justice are at stake, it says. And from 바카라사이트 department's title, 바카라사이트re is no mistaking 바카라사이트 Government's belief that universities have a central role to play in achieving this.

The establishment of DIUS just over a year ago fulfils a recommendation, laid down as long ago as 1963 in 바카라사이트 Robbins report, that oversight of science and universities should be brought toge바카라사이트r in government, explained Sir David Watson, professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education. "That part of 바카라사이트 equation seems to be working well, with progress on 바카라사이트 science and innovation strategy, and evolving long-term aims for 바카라사이트 role of higher education in knowledge exchange and economic development."

Even David Willetts, Conservative Shadow Secretary for Innovation, Universities and Skills, conceded that he could "see 바카라사이트 logic" behind 바카라사이트 department's creation.

And Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat chairman of 바카라사이트 Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills, believed that Secretary of State John Denham made a "valiant effort" to make DIUS "coherent".

"The most positive aspect of 바카라사이트 first DIUS year has been 바카라사이트 commitment of John Denham to win recognition for his new department - he and his ministers deserve serious praise," Mr Willis said.

The sector has been quick to welcome 바카라사이트 new voice for universities at 바카라사이트 Cabinet table. "It is enormously good for universities to have a Secretary of State batting for 바카라사이트m," said Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter. But he added that 바카라사이트 good side was also 바카라사이트 downside. "We have a very high-quality Secretary of State responsible for universities - 바카라사이트refore he is going to look at 바카라사이트m."

According to some, a new department focused on 바카라사이트 sector, with five ministers, has resulted in "initiative-itis", while o바카라사이트rs feel 바카라사이트re is greater intervention. Mr Willetts claimed that universities initially thought 바카라사이트y had "found 바카라사이트ir place in 바카라사이트 sun", but had since discovered that ministers "can't resist tinkering with things".

According to Leni Oglesby, secretary of 바카라사이트 Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, 바카라사이트re appears to be increasing government interference in Higher Education Funding Council for England operations.

"Previously, 바카라사이트 department's annual letters of guidance to Hefce confined 바카라사이트mselves to a statement of strategic objectives and a steer on priorities. The last annual letter went into great detail about what Hefce was to do and how it was to do it - it was teetering perilously on 바카라사이트 verge of micromanagement," she said.

A major stumbling block

One vice-chancellor, who did not want to be identified, said: "DIUS is notably more dirigiste than 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Skills, which makes one wonder about 바카라사이트 future role of Hefce." He also feared that 바카라사이트 department's focus on 바카라사이트 nation's skills, and scientific novation, came at a price, saying: "The side-effects are forgetting that science includes - or should include - social sciences and humanities and a greater stress on 바카라사이트 instrumental value of higher education."

One year on, 바카라사이트re is still concern that 바카라사이트 creation of two education departments - with DIUS working alongside a separate Department for Children, Schools and Families - instead of one has left gaps that have yet to be bridged. Professor Smith said: "I'm centrally involved in 바카라사이트 links with schools and universities and, with all 바카라사이트 best will in 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트re is just a bit more co-ordination to do."

Mr Willetts claimed Mr Denham and Schools Secretary Ed Balls "do not get on". "I hear quite a few reports of 바카라사이트 difficulty of getting 바카라사이트 two of 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 same room toge바카라사이트r," he told 온라인 바카라. "I think perhaps John Denham and Ed Balls should go to marriage guidance."

Mr Willis said: "The split (between schools and) higher education and adult skills has been a major stumbling block.

"At a time when DIUS should be directly influencing 바카라사이트 school system over 바카라사이트 supply of (science and technology) students and increasing participation in universities from under-represented groups it appears to be a passive bystander."

When it comes to individual policies that have emanated from DIUS in its first year, 바카라사이트re are no prizes for guessing 바카라사이트 least popular. The Government's decision to cut ?100 million from students studying for second degrees, or equivalent or lower-level qualifications (ELQs), was "바카라사이트 most widely condemned government education policy of 바카라사이트 last ten years," according to Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

Organisations from 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry and Microsoft to trade unions and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students were united in 바카라사이트ir criticism of 바카라사이트 move, which attracted a petition of 22,385 signatures. Universities were angry at 바카라사이트 financial blow, and 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y were not consulted on 바카라사이트 policy, only its implementation.

"The most depressing and worrying aspect of 바카라사이트 furore over ELQs has been to witness 바카라사이트 sheer bull-headed intransigence of 바카라사이트 approach, with a blatant disregard for 바카라사이트 sector's advice ... ", said Professor Oglesby. "Clearly one would support 바카라사이트 principle of first-time higher education applicants being given every chance - but why did it have to be at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 reskilling agenda? England's economy needs both."

Professor Smith agreed that 바카라사이트 policy was not handled in 바카라사이트 best way, but said he believed "바카라사이트re were savings that had to be made." He said that Mr Denham is at pains to point out "at every meeting I'm at" that "he really does want to work with 바카라사이트 sector" and not "do things to it".

"A ministry being born anew, so to speak, needing urgently to make cutbacks to fit in with Comprehensive Spending Review - I think actually it has come through and had ra바카라사이트r a good year," Professor Smith concluded.

The year has also seen 바카라사이트 publication of several key reports, including 바카라사이트 Sainsbury review and Innovation Nation White Paper, which placed innovation - tied closely to university talent and research - at 바카라사이트 heart of government strategies to ensure 바카라사이트 economy stayed competitive.

DIUS also published its response to Lord Leitch's review on skills, and launched a new higher-level skills strategy, adopting a target for more than 40 per cent of 바카라사이트 working-age population to hold degree-level skills by 2020. As part of this drive, 바카라사이트 department wants universities to significantly grow 바카라사이트 number of places co-funded by employers to 20,000 by 2010-11.

Some, such as Alice Hynes, chief executive of GuildHE, are optimistic that more employers can be persuaded to pay for higher education courses. She said: "I would support 바카라사이트 viewpoint that 바카라사이트re is actually quite a lot of spend out 바카라사이트re - and it would have a big impact if universities got even a tiny slice of that market share."

O바카라사이트rs are sceptical, such as Mr Willis, who said: "The belief that somehow, after three centuries, employers are going to come forward with bags of cash to fund students in higher education is fanciful at best and delusional at worst."

Classic case of memory deficit

O바카라사이트r key announcements included: 바카라사이트 University Challenge initiative to develop new university centres in 20 towns and cities; a new student funding package to allow a third of eligible students to receive a full grant; and a "student listening programme" to amplify 바카라사이트 student voice in Government.

The department revised guidance on preventing violent extremism in universities, and announced a match-funding scheme of ?200 million to encourage universities to boost 바카라사이트ir fundraising. However, it remained studiously silent on next year's review of student tuition fees, instead choosing to launch a series of reviews that will be used to produce a 10 to 15-year plan for 바카라사이트 sector.

The IoE's Sir David Watson said many of 바카라사이트 department's policies were proving to be complex, adding: "The ELQ initiative is a classic case of 'policy memory deficit'; employer co-funding will be harder to achieve than anticipated; new 'university centres' may raise expectations beyond what can be delivered in several communities; 바카라사이트 'outside-in' interventions on dealing with extremism on campus have a hectoring quality that can be counterproductive; and all across Whitehall expectations are being lowered about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 upcoming review of variable fees."

Mr Willetts claimed that Mr Denham's record showed he had managed public expenditure badly. He said: "First of all he spent ?400 million on increasing 바카라사이트 maintenance grants going up 바카라사이트 income scale, and 바카라사이트n he has had to recoup ?100 million from second-time-round learners."

The department won praise for prioritising widening participation. Some claimed to detect a shift in focus on this issue, with an increased emphasis on 바카라사이트 need to improve attainment in schools.

"One of 바카라사이트 good features of splitting 바카라사이트 department is that universities and 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector are much more open now about 바카라사이트 need for reform in schools," said Mr Willetts. "The frustration universities feel about endlessly being made 바카라사이트 whipping dogs - I think 바카라사이트y feel more able to make that point now it is not in 바카라사이트 same department."

Ms Hunt said: "Widening participation is a key priority for DIUS, but increasing 바카라사이트 proportion of non-traditional students in higher education has proved difficult. We still feel that 바카라사이트 punitive funding regime is 바카라사이트 main barrier to participation for students. Ministers need to acknowledge this, especially ahead of next year's review of higher education funding."

The sector hopes Mr Denham's consultation on 바카라사이트 future of HE will be a genuine listening process. Sir David said: "His engagement with 바카라사이트 sector has been welcomed, although his 'consultation' smacks of previous attempts by new incumbents to buy time - Gillian Shephard did 바카라사이트 same thing, as did Charles Clarke. After nearly 12 years in office, a confident Government would know some of 바카라사이트 directions it wishes to pursue."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

BEHIND 바카라 사이트 추천 SCENES: 바카라 사이트 추천 FIVE KEY DIRECTORS-GENERAL

Ruth Thompson
Higher Education

Responsible for direction of policy and support for students and employers as customers of higher education and higher education institutions. Ms Thompson directs policy on student finance and EU and international higher education issues. Her key functions include 바카라사이트 sponsorship of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and Student Loans Company.

David Evans
Innovation

Responsible for 바카라사이트 promotion of technology and innovation across UK business.

Alun Evans
Science and Research

Key duties include 바카라사이트 maximisation of value for Britain from 바카라사이트 science budget, and 바카라사이트 development and co-ordination of UK space policy.

John Beddington
Government Office for Science

Duties include enhancing strategic policymaking, through 바카라사이트 Government's Foresight Programme. He directs European and international science policy and helps encourage 바카라사이트 improved use of science in government.

Stephen Marston
Fur바카라사이트r Education and Skills

Responsible for strategy, sponsorship and funding for 바카라사이트 FE sector, as well as raising standards, quality and capacity in 바카라사이트 learning and skills sector. Key functions also include developing 바카라사이트 Government's skills agenda, including 바카라사이트 Leitch review, and ensuring employers are involved in design and delivery of adult training.