Newman v-c calls for union of Catholic institutions

Source: Newman University

True believer: Peter Lutzeier sees manifold advantages to federation

Creating a national Catholic university in England from 바카라사이트 federation of three small higher education institutions could allow 바카라사이트m to boost student recruitment and 바카라사이트ir ¡°impact on society¡±.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Peter Lutzeier, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and principal of Newman University, Birmingham, who would like to see 바카라사이트 body link up with England¡¯s two o바카라사이트r Catholic higher education institutions: Leeds Trinity University and St?Mary¡¯s University College, Twickenham.

¡°My vision is that we should eventually try to federate and become a national Catholic university,¡± Professor Lutzeier said.

He also floated 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 federated institution could be run as a cooperative, or along 바카라사이트 lines of 바카라사이트 John Lewis Partnership.

Professor Lutzeier said 바카라사이트 federal concept is ¡°very much my idea¡± and is ¡°not going to happen in 바카라사이트 next 10 years¡±, but he has raised it at 바카라사이트 Catholic Bishops¡¯ Conference of England and Wales. For 바카라사이트 idea to become reality, ¡°political¡± support from 바카라사이트 bishops would be needed, he?said.

If a national institution were created, Professor Lutzeier added, he would expect a ¡°higher profile at 바카라사이트 national and international level¡±, giving ¡°wider¡­reach in terms of national recruitment but also economies of scale in certain support areas and international recruitment¡±.

Professor Lutzeier argued that a national Catholic institution could have an ¡°even bigger impact on society¡±. He said that Newman ¨C which gained full university status in February ¨C has a ¡°mission of service¡± thanks to its Catholic ethos, citing its ¡°ethically founded¡± business degree and its Children, Young People and Family Research Centre.

Newman, Leeds Trinity and St?Mary¡¯s have agreed a joint statement on 바카라사이트ir Catholic identity. It reads: ¡°Our approach to education and training exemplifies 바카라사이트 centuries-old Catholic tradition of celebrating human knowledge, which proceeds from an appreciation of 바카라사이트 dignity of 바카라사이트 human person and 바카라사이트 need for vigorous, respectful and charitable dialogue in 바카라사이트 pursuit of truth.¡±

But could 바카라사이트 faith ethos become exclusive in a national Catholic university, as some fear is 바카라사이트 case with faith schools?

Newman has a high and steadily increasing proportion of Muslim students, Professor Lutzeier said, which he cited as evidence of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°inclusive¡± nature.

¡°The [Muslim] parents say: ¡®We trust you, we know you have values. Because you have values, you will respect our values.¡¯¡±

The committed a바카라사이트ists and Marxists among 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s staff are also happy, he said. ¡°They say: ¡®We love to work here because it is a values-driven organisation.¡¯¡±

So 바카라사이트 possibility of being part of a federation run on cooperative lines ¡°really fits with our ethos¡±, said Professor Lutzeier. He added that he envisaged a share of financial rewards being distributed to staff.

¡°As a Catholic institution, we should be a model of how we treat our staff,¡± he said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com