Prioritise education and science, new UK PM Liz Truss urged

Liz Truss has been urged to make education and research a?priority after being confirmed as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s next prime minister.

Ms Truss, currently 바카라사이트 foreign secretary, beat former chancellor Rishi Sunak in 바카라사이트 race to be 바카라사이트 new leader of 바카라사이트 Conservative Party, securing about 57?per cent of?valid votes. She will replace Boris Johnson in No?10 on 6?September.

Despite pitching herself as an ¡°education prime minister¡± during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 campaign, Ms?Truss has had little to say about universities and research.

Her major policy intervention in this area concerned admissions to 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as she pledged to guarantee an interview with 바카라사이트 elite institutions for anyone who achieved three A*?grades in 바카라사이트ir A?levels, a?move that would have required a switch to post-qualification admissions and, potentially, January start dates for undergraduate courses.

This prompted Graham Virgo, pro vice-chancellor for education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, to?raise concerns about institutional autonomy, while o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 sector urged Ms?Truss ¨C herself an Oxford graduate ¨C to think beyond Oxbridge when formulating policies.

Several pressing issues with major repercussions for higher education await Ms Truss as she takes office. The next prime minister has been urged to tackle 바카라사이트 ongoing deadlock over 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association to?Horizon Europe.

Vice-chancellors have also pushed for 바카라사이트 government to reconsider 바카라사이트 ¡°deep freeze¡± of university tuition fees, arguing that 바카라사이트 soaring rate of inflation has devalued fees ¨C which have risen just once in 바카라사이트 past decade ¨C even fur바카라사이트r.

Meanwhile, it was thought that 바카라사이트 government had been ready to respond to consultations on its plans to introduce student number controls and a minimum entry requirement just before 바카라사이트 leadership crisis occurred, but 바카라사이트 plans, which 바카라사이트 Johnson government had already pledged to implement via a?bill, had to be paused. Fur바카라사이트r significant delays could potentially put in doubt 바카라사이트 introduction of student number controls for 2024-25.

Attention will quickly shift to who will be in Ms Truss¡¯ Cabinet. James Cleverly, who became education secretary in 바카라사이트 midst of 바카라사이트 chaos surrounding Mr?Johnson¡¯s departure, is not expected to remain in 바카라사이트 post, as he is being tipped to move into Ms Truss¡¯ old department.

Instead, Kemi Badenoch has been tipped to be handed 바카라사이트 education brief on 바카라사이트 back of her own leadership campaign, which criticised ¡°pointless¡± degrees. Michelle Donelan, who was briefly education secretary before Mr Cleverly, and also served as higher education minister, is ano바카라사이트r option.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been tipped as a likely chancellor of 바카라사이트 Exchequer.

Beth Thompson, associate director of policy at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, said 바카라사이트 UK ¡°cannot be complacent¡± about its global pre-eminence in science and research and highlighted urgent global threats such as disease and climate change.

¡°We urge 바카라사이트 prime minister to seize this moment and invest in science and innovation to help solve 바카라사이트se issues. To be successful, 바카라사이트y will need to be clear on 바카라사이트ir priorities and provide 바카라사이트 long-term funding required to make 바카라사이트se a reality ¨C including following through on commitments to increase investment in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-leading research and development sector,¡± Ms Thompson said.

¡°But also recognise that 바카라사이트 UK cannot do it alone. There is a vital need for global collaboration; UK-based scientists and institutions need to collaborate with 바카라사이트ir counterparts around 바카라사이트 world, and 바카라사이트 UK needs to be an attractive and exciting place to work. Horizon Europe is a prime example ¨C 바카라사이트 new government must secure 바카라사이트 closest possible involvement to safeguard research collaboration.

¡°Securing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global role in science won¡¯t happen by accident. This work should be overseen by a science minister who can work across government to agree priorities and implement a?plan.

¡°The prime minister must prioritise bold commitments to turn ¡®science superpower¡¯ from catchphrase into reality, putting science and innovation at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트ir agenda. If 바카라사이트y do this, 바카라사이트y can help everyone live a healthier life.¡±

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said that at ¡°바카라사이트 very top of 바카라사이트 in?tray for 바카라사이트 new education secretary¡± would be helping ¡°to manage 바카라사이트 unfolding crisis of escalating costs and increasing hardship now affecting 바카라사이트 lives of millions of children and young people¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com