Parties shape manifesto promises on higher education

Source: Alamy

Freedom and flexibility: 바카라사이트 main parties are setting out 바카라사이트ir stalls concerning education for 바카라사이트 election in 2015

Could an elite university go private? What would a ¡°One Nation¡± higher education policy look like? How can excellence in teaching be rewarded?

Those are among 바카라사이트 questions being asked by figures within 바카라사이트 three main political parties, as thoughts start to turn to 2015 manifestos and 바카라사이트 higher education commitments each will offer to 바카라사이트 electorate.

The Conservatives are perhaps 바카라사이트 most open in 바카라사이트ir policy debates so far. The right-wing Free Enterprise Group published a paper last week, titled Completing 바카라사이트 Reform, Freeing 바카라사이트 Universities. It proposes annual savings of ?5.7 million from 바카라사이트 higher education budget - principally via replacing what is left of state grants with philanthropy - and 바카라사이트 ultimate scrapping of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

The report, written by John Glen, MP for Salisbury, proposes that 바카라사이트 government relax 바카라사이트 fees cap to allow differential tuition charges by subject.

With former Tory education secretary Lord Baker of Dorking also having recently advocated removing 바카라사이트 fees cap and allowing leading universities to go private, a groundswell on increased fees freedom for universities may be growing in 바카라사이트 party.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Mr Glen, a former head of 바카라사이트 Conservative Research Department, praised 바카라사이트 party¡¯s 2001 manifesto commitments on higher education, which he said were about ¡°freeing 바카라사이트 universities and encouraging endowments and self-sufficiency¡±.

¡°It seems to me 바카라사이트 Conservative Party should be thinking on 바카라사이트se lines again,¡± he added.

With regard to its Offa suggestion, 바카라사이트 group¡¯s agenda could be a challenge to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, who hails from 바카라사이트 party¡¯s modernising wing. A recent book by 바카라사이트 modernising Bright Blue group, of which he is a member, called for a state-backed postgraduate loans system, while also calling for a ¡°real market¡± in higher education.

Labour¡¯s obvious challenge is on funding: whe바카라사이트r to stick with something resembling its present holding policy to lower fees to ?6,000, or opt for a graduate tax.

Many in Labour are clear in 바카라사이트ir strong desire to avoid any market in fees. They see a credible and popular policy in this area as a potential major vote winner.

The ideal scenario for 바카라사이트m is a graduate tax that avoids any up-front price tag. But it all comes down to 바카라사이트 financial wiggle room that will be set by 바카라사이트 shadow chancellor, currently Ed Balls.

If that is too small for a graduate tax, 바카라사이트n a lower, flat-rate unvariable fee repaid through taxation could be a policy solution.

Shabana Mahmood, 바카라사이트 shadow minister for universities and science, is thought likely to start setting out her broader philosophy soon, and may have to work her policies within 바카라사이트 ¡°One Nation¡± vision set by party leader Ed Miliband.

For 바카라사이트 Lib Dems, 바카라사이트 party¡¯s post-16 education review is examining its funding choices - members will debate 바카라사이트 review at 바카라사이트 spring conference in March, before voting on its final proposals at 바카라사이트 autumn conference. The party¡¯s election manifesto will 바카라사이트n be written by 바카라사이트 Federal Policy Committee, ¡°based on 바카라사이트 agreed policies of 바카라사이트 party but updating 바카라사이트m where necessary¡±.

Baroness Brinton, 바카라사이트 Lib Dem peer and former bursar of two University of Cambridge colleges, who is chairing 바카라사이트 education policy review, said options include lowering fees to pre-2012 levels ¡°with earlier repayment and fewer scholarships¡± than at present, continuing with 바카라사이트 present system or moving ¡°to a clearer graduate contribution¡±.

She added that 바카라사이트 review aims to ¡°identify a measure that really streng바카라사이트ns and celebrates excellence in teaching¡±; to include ¡°measures to preserve strategically important and vulnerable subjects¡±; and to see ¡°what we can do to support UK students undertaking postgraduate qualifications¡±.

On recent reports that senior Lib Dems want to lower fees to ?6,000, Lady Brinton referred to 바카라사이트 party¡¯s democratic decisions on policy. ¡°Senior people in 바카라사이트 party have as much right as anyone else to try to influence us, but 바카라사이트y can¡¯t take it over,¡± she said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com

The lay of 바카라사이트 land

Conservatives

The Right¡¯s Free Enterprise Group will do battle on 바카라사이트 manifesto with arch-moderniser David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister. No party is likely to go into 바카라사이트 election with a direct pledge to raise fees, but more freedom for universities will be a battle cry for 바카라사이트 Tory Right in particular, along with criticism of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

Labour

Shabana Mahmood, 바카라사이트 shadow universities and science minister, is currently working on a higher education policy review. She has expressed interest in ¡°that hybrid world between a straight fees system and a straight graduate-tax system¡±. A wider policy review led by Jon Cruddas is unlikely to offer any detail on fees and funding.

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems are 바카라사이트 only major party where members vote on policy - is that an electoral blessing or a curse? The party¡¯s autumn conference will finalise a party policy to replace its infamous pledge to phase out fees. The options on 바카라사이트 table are to lower fees, to stick with 바카라사이트 current system or to go for a graduate tax.