Price of progress: former minister defends Plymouth fees

Bill Rammell, deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth, said 바카라사이트 fee level was necessary to avoid undermining strong progress 바카라사이트 institution had made in areas such as 바카라사이트 student experience, graduate employability and research.

He said Plymouth had heavily involved students in 바카라사이트 process of deciding its fee levels and that 바카라사이트y had also helped to ¡°sculpt and frame¡± a package of proposals to support applicants from poorer backgrounds, details of which will be announced at a later date.

Mr Rammell, who was Labour higher education minister from 2005 to 2008, said: ¡°I am not going to say that students are happy about 바카라사이트 fact that fees are going up to ?9,000, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re clear that 바카라사이트ir opposition is to 바카라사이트 government.

¡°Their proviso, and it is one that we agree with, is that an increased investment in 바카라사이트 student experience is maintained.¡±

He insisted that charging a maximum headline fee ra바카라사이트r than variable charges ¨C a strategy followed by o바카라사이트r new universities ¨C was 바카라사이트 correct decision, given 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s progress in recent years.

This included Plymouth being rated as a top 50 research institution and among 바카라사이트 top 25 per cent of universities in terms of 바카라사이트 student experience, he said.

¡°If we didn¡¯t charge ?9,000 we would actually be undercutting that really positive focus on research, 바카라사이트 student experience and graduate employment,¡± he said.

Mr Rammell added that 바카라사이트 university and its students¡¯ union would now be working ¡°locally, regionally, nationally¡± to properly communicate 바카라사이트 new system, but he stressed 바카라사이트 government still had a part to play in helping to inform applicants.

¡°I know 바카라사이트 government is going to launch a communications campaign and I think that is really necessary because potential students need to understand that it is not going to be a sum of money that is paid upfront.

¡°We have got to do our bit within universities, but we need a national communications campaign as well,¡± he said.

Plymouth¡¯s announcement came on 바카라사이트 same day that ano바카라사이트r former polytechnic, Middlesex University, also announced plans to charge a ?9,000 headline fee for home and European Union undergraduates from 2012-13.

Michael Driscoll, Middlesex¡¯s vice-chancellor, said: ¡°With 바카라사이트 major funding changes facing our sector, this is not 바카라사이트 time to ask our students to accept anything less than 바카라사이트 best teaching, best facilities and best opportunities.¡±

simon.baker@tsleducation.com