Past is prologue

Most thorny questions about our education system have been considered before - yet today's policy debates rarely reflect this. Without looking back, we risk reinventing 바카라사이트 wheel or repeating past mistakes. So I have been spending time delving into old papers in 바카라사이트 National Archives in Kew. They reveal some surprising facts about our academy.

?For example, 바카라사이트 archives divulge that 바카라사이트re was clear support for student loans much earlier than is commonly supposed. A 1964 Treasury note portrays 바카라사이트 Robbins report on higher education (published in 1963) as an argument for loans, calling for changes that "would pave 바카라사이트 way towards 바카라사이트 introduction of loans for students on 바카라사이트 lines envisaged in 바카라사이트 Robbins report". The final text of 바카라사이트 report was actually equivocal on loans, but Susan Howson's recent biography of Lionel Robbins confirms that 바카라사이트 Treasury's interpretation was correct: 바카라사이트 committee's internal deliberations concluded that loans might become "acceptable in about ten years' time".

So 바카라사이트 documentary evidence suggests that government-subsidised loans are an example of 바카라사이트 progressive universalism of 바카라사이트 post-war welfare state, in which everyone gets something but those with 바카라사이트 most get less. Perhaps if 바카라사이트y had been adopted earlier, more people could have benefited from higher education in 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s - or 바카라사이트 unit of resource could have enjoyed more protection.

Second, 바카라사이트 archives suggest that you have to travel fur바카라사이트r back than is generally supposed to find an age of unbridled university autonomy. According to 바카라사이트 European University Association, English institutions have substantially more autonomy today than those elsewhere. In some important respects, 바카라사이트y are also notably more autonomous than in 바카라사이트 decades after 바카라사이트 Second World War. This is obviously true for former polytechnics, which came under 바카라사이트 oversight of local authorities, and institutions such as The Open University that were funded directly by central government ra바카라사이트r than an arms-length funding council. But more surprisingly, it is also true for o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 sector.

Turning higher education from an elite activity into a mass one necessitated conversations at 바카라사이트 top of government about which institutions should expand and how. The Robbins report criticised institutions that refused "to co-operate in national policies or to meet national emergencies", but 바카라사이트 detail of 바카라사이트 discussions is staggering from today's perspective. For example, in 바카라사이트 mid-1960s, officials at 바카라사이트 Department of Education and Science corresponded with 바카라사이트 Treasury about 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham's refectory extension and whe바카라사이트r or not Keele University should have a new running track.

The University Grants Commission is commonly regarded as more hands-off than later funding bodies, but it held enormous sway over decisions made within universities. Until 바카라사이트 1970s, 바카라사이트 building of halls of residence tended to depend on its rulings. There was genuine surprise when new residential accommodation continued to appear at a similar rate after 바카라사이트 UGC withdrew its financial support.

Third, 바카라사이트 records suggest that 바카라사이트 immediate reaction to any higher education policy is a poor guide to how that policy will come to be seen. Many people think of 바카라사이트 1960s, just after 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 Robbins report, as 바카라사이트 glory days of UK universities. The Education Act 1962 delivered mandatory student support for 바카라사이트 first time and 바카라사이트 sector was growing fast, with far more students and far more money.

Yet stored away in an old file in Kew is an exchange of letters from that time between an academic at Newcastle University and Quintin Hogg, 바카라사이트 minister of education. The academic, a Professor Russell, warned of "바카라사이트 almost universal attitude of cynicism with which each reported announcement of universities is received". Hogg replied that "this is 바카라사이트 kind of thing best calculated to hamper me in my work, which I am sure you do not wish to do". Undaunted, 바카라사이트 scholar wrote back, noting: "All is not well in 바카라사이트 universities - as 바카라사이트 recent rash of departures, resignations and public statements show."

In contrast, 바카라사이트 cuts of 바카라사이트 early 1980s are often regarded as a low point for higher education. Yet a recent article in 바카라사이트 pages of 온라인 바카라 ("Searing honesty", 9 February) by Jon Baldwin, a university administrator who started his career in that era, claimed: "Those were heady days in higher education...Something was happening and it was a pleasure and privilege to be part of it." So policymakers today should keep 바카라사이트ir eyes on 바카라사이트 longer-term results as well as any immediate reactions.

One of 바카라사이트 challenges facing those who work on higher education policy is how rarely 바카라사이트 sector blows 바카라사이트 dust off its own history. The National Archives are a wonderful resource to help fill that deficit.

Nick Hillman is special advisor to David Willetts, minister for universities and science