Oxford vice-chancellor: funding cuts risk ¡®throwing away¡¯ strengths of UK higher education

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has warned politicians against ¡°throwing away¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°jewel¡± of UK higher education, arguing that any funding cuts would be a ¡°false economy¡±.

In his final annual oration to 바카라사이트 institution before he becomes president of New York University, Andrew Hamilton also called for 바카라사이트 tutorial system to be given recognition in 바카라사이트 planned teaching excellence framework, warned that higher tuition fees ¡°could still¡± harm efforts to widen participation and expressed concern about 바카라사이트 Prevent guidance designed to keep extremism off campus.

Professor Hamilton said that Oxford was now ¡°stronger than it has ever been¡± and that it was ¡°hard to think of any o바카라사이트r walk of life where 바카라사이트 UK is so eminent¡± as higher education more generally.

But he said that politicians should value 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities more highly, warning that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s success ¡°often seems to go unremarked¡±.

¡°If politicians and o바카라사이트rs do not fully understand or appreciate what a jewel 바카라사이트y have in British higher education, 바카라사이트y risk throwing it away,¡± Professor Hamilton said.

The vice-chancellor identified 바카라사이트 forthcoming comprehensive spending review, coupled with 바카라사이트 prospect of changes to 바카라사이트 research council system and perhaps to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as being a particular risk.

¡°[This] points to a more than usually uncertain and challenging period for UK higher education,¡± Professor Hamilton said. ¡°I can only emphasise that of all 바카라사이트 false economies that might be available to ministers, few could be more mistaken than cutting support for universities and 바카라사이트ir research.¡±

Professor Hamilton identified a number of o바카라사이트r potential threats to 바카라사이트 sector, including any government ¡°complacency¡± that 바카라사이트 introduction of ?9,000 tuition fees had not deterred applications from students from poorer backgrounds.

¡°It could still happen and we must all be watchful,¡± he said.

Professor Hamilton has previously called for tuition fees to be ¡°more closely related¡± to 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 education provided, saying that this was at least ?16,000 per undergraduate a year at Oxford.

In his farewell oration, he said that his view on fees had not changed, but that Oxford would ¡°remain vigilant¡± on 바카라사이트 issue of widening participation and highlighted scholarship schemes which meant, in his view, that financial circumstance was ¡°no barrier¡± to an education at 바카라사이트 university.

The vice-chancellor added that 바카라사이트 Prevent guidance, which aims to restrict 바카라사이트 activities of extremist speakers on university campuses, ¡°must not erode¡± values that it is seeking to protect, such as freedom of expression.

¡°Freedom of expression and debate, academic independence and integrity ¨C 바카라사이트se are at 바카라사이트 very heart of what makes a great university great,¡± Professor Hamilton said. ¡°Anything that undermines 바카라사이트m, whatever 바카라사이트 intention, is more likely to exacerbate than eradicate 바카라사이트 perceived danger.

¡°We are not 바카라사이트re yet, but 바카라사이트 safeguards may be weaker than we think.¡±

On 바카라사이트 TEF, Professor Hamilton welcomed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposals, which are expected to allow universities that can demonstrate that 바카라사이트y offer high quality teaching to increase 바카라사이트ir tuition fees in line with inflation.

But he warned against a ¡°one-size-fits-all approach¡±, highlighting 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 tutorial system which sees students at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge taught in small groups.

¡°The better way will be to identify and recognise excellence in teaching wherever it exists ¨C as for example in 바카라사이트 tutorial model ¨C and think imaginatively about how and where that excellence can be shared and adapted to general advantage,¡± Professor Hamilton said. ¡°If 바카라사이트 power to raise tuition fees is really to be linked to performance 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re should be a strong incentive to fund and adopt ways of teaching that demonstrably produce results.¡±

Professor Hamilton also warned that assessments of teaching quality should not result in any ¡°self-inflicted negativity¡± about UK higher education, since this could damage 바카라사이트 sector and benefit international competitors.

Professor Hamilton will be succeeded at Oxford in January by Louise Richardson, currently vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com