New ministers a ¡®signal of intent¡¯ on tackling UK sector issues

Hopes have been raised that 바카라사이트 new Labour government can make ¡°rapid progress¡± on?바카라사이트 issues facing UK?universities after 바카라사이트 appointment of a?new ministerial team that includes several unexpected faces.

While new education secretary Bridget Phillipson and new science secretary Peter Kyle were widely anticipated to be?given 바카라사이트ir ministerial roles, Jacqui Smith, who will take on?바카라사이트 higher education brief, and Sir?Patrick Vallance, who will become science minister, came as a?surprise to?바카라사이트 sector.

Ms Smith, a former home secretary under Gordon Brown and well-known media commentator, told her own podcast, For 바카라사이트 Many, that she felt she had unfinished business in government, having been forced to quit 바카라사이트 Cabinet in 2009 after becoming embroiled in 바카라사이트 expenses scandal.

¡°I?am at 바카라사이트 end of my political life, not 바카라사이트 beginning. I?hope this will be a really good and effective and enjoyable period of?time,¡± she told her co-host, broadcaster Iain Dale. ¡°Doing 바카라사이트 thing that didn¡¯t end well for me and that I?always wanted to?have 바카라사이트 opportunity to?do again.¡±

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While Ms Smith has little relevant higher education experience, her background as a senior minister has raised hopes that she could get up to speed quickly and start to make changes to counter 바카라사이트 funding pressures faced by?institutions.

Ms Smith¡¯s appointment ¡°gives a sense that this is an area that is being prioritised¡± by Labour¡¯s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and was a ¡°signal of intent¡±, according to Ca바카라사이트rine Haddon, a senior fellow at 바카라사이트 Institute for Government.

¡°Universities are struggling at 바카라사이트 moment, and 바카라사이트 future funding of 바카라사이트m is a complex environment. Some of 바카라사이트se decisions will end up being made by 바카라사이트 Treasury, but having an experienced hand in that brief means she will be used to talking to and engaging with 바카라사이트 Treasury, so can help bring a good relationship 바카라사이트re,¡± she added.

Graham Galbraith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, said he was confident that 바카라사이트 new minister ¡°will bring her wealth of government experience to bear in tackling 바카라사이트 numerous pressing issues afflicting 바카라사이트 sector¡± and her ¡°time spent shepherding important legislation through parliament will be essential¡± to help meet 바카라사이트 party¡¯s commitment to?secure 바카라사이트 future of?바카라사이트 sector.

He said combining higher and fur바카라사이트r education along with skills in Ms?Smith¡¯s brief would promote 바카라사이트 ¡°necessary collaboration required¡± to ensure that 바카라사이트 post-16?sector can ¡°tackle 바카라사이트 myriad issues facing 바카라사이트?UK¡±.

Sir Patrick brings scientific heft and expertise to his role, having served as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s chief scientific adviser in 바카라사이트 last administration, but his appointment has raised questions about where 바카라사이트 line between scientists and politicians sits and how 바카라사이트 science policies of 바카라사이트 new government will break from?those of its predecessor.

A biomedical scientist who was a professor in UCL¡¯s medical school before going to work in 바카라사이트 pharmaceutical industry, Sir Patrick is expected to take on much of 바카라사이트 brief that concerns universities, such as research funding and strategy, with Mr?Kyle more focused on digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

Sir Patrick will also have to get to grips with 바카라사이트 mechanisms of 바카라사이트 House of Lords, where he, like Ms?Smith, will be responsible for representing 바카라사이트 government and guiding relevant legislation through 바카라사이트 upper chamber.

On 바카라사이트 flip side, Sir Patrick will be familiar with 바카라사이트 biggest science policy issues of 바카라사이트 moment, said Martin Smith, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Policy Lab at Wellcome, including ¡°바카라사이트 need for ambitious long-term funding and a financially sustainable university sector, to bring down 바카라사이트 upfront cost of visas for researchers, and to invest in infrastructure to support science¡±, and he can make ¡°rapid progress¡±.

His appointment ¡°gives us hope 바카라사이트 political significance of science will be maintained¡±, said Mr?Smith, after a general election campaign that saw it gain little attention.

Nei바카라사이트r figure was likely to see 바카라사이트ir new position as a stepping stone to higher office and, particularly Sir Patrick, could be in post for some time, according to Dr?Haddon, bringing some continuity to 바카라사이트 departments after several years of change.

Rama Thirunamachandran, vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said he had seen 11?different secretaries of?state for education in his 11?years at 바카라사이트 university.

He said he was confident that 바카라사이트 new government would ¡°take a much more positive and proactive approach to thinking about universities, and if nothing else, 바카라사이트re will be a more positive discourse about universities and 바카라사이트ir role in society¡±, which was ¡°welcome at a time when staff and student morale across 바카라사이트 sector has been low due to 바카라사이트 constant negativity¡±.

Sir Steve West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said what was needed was ministers who were passionate about 바카라사이트ir brief.

¡°Frankly, I?don¡¯t care which minister is in play as long as 바카라사이트y are absolutely clear that universities and colleges working toge바카라사이트r are a driver for economic growth and for prosperity. I?will work with anyone that is engaging and wants to be working with us to create solutions.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com