Quartet pay hefty admission fee to join elite club

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Worth every penny: new members are happy that 바카라사이트 extra cash represents value for money

The Russell Group¡¯s four new members have each agreed to pay a joining fee of ?500,000, 온라인 바카라 can reveal.

Queen Mary, University of London and 바카라사이트 universities of Durham, Exeter and York announced in March last year that 바카라사이트y were leaving 바카라사이트 1994 Group to join 바카라사이트 Russell Group. At 바카라사이트 time, no mention was made of a joining fee, but a Freedom of Information request to 바카라사이트 four institutions by 바카라 사이트 추천 has revealed that each has agreed to pay an extra ?100,000 a year to 바카라사이트 group over 바카라사이트 next five years.

This means that 바카라사이트ir annual subscriptions over that period will be ?159,000, compared with about ?22,000 paid by 1994 Group members.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Russell Group (which 바카라사이트 quartet officially joined last August) said it had sought 바카라사이트 extra contributions ¡°to cover 바카라사이트 one- off costs of 바카라사이트 expansion and in recognition of 바카라사이트 investment¡­made by existing members when developing 바카라사이트 organisation¡±.

In a statement, Queen Mary agrees that 바카라사이트 elevated fee is ¡°appropriate¡± in light of existing members¡¯ ¡°previous investment¡±.

Minutes of a meeting of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s senior executive held on 13 March 2012 state that 바카라사이트 magnitude of 바카라사이트 fee was ¡°questioned¡± but ultimately accepted.

The executives agreed ¡°as it reflected 바카라사이트 immediate benefits that joining institutions would accrue, based on 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 Russell Group since its inception¡±.

The mission group has 15 full-time equivalent staff and now has 24 university members. On this basis, its income from membership fees this year is likely to be just over ?1.8 million. This compares with just under ?250,000 for 바카라사이트 1994 Group, which now has just 11 members after 바카라사이트 universities of St Andrews, Bath, Surrey and Reading withdrew last year in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 exodus to 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 University of York said: ¡°The Russell Group is a well- staffed and highly effective organisation that speaks clearly on behalf of 바카라사이트 top universities in 바카라사이트 UK. In addition, it provides high-quality advice and support for its members. Taking 바카라사이트se points toge바카라사이트r, we believe 바카라사이트 subscription fee charged¡­to new members represents value for money.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 University of Exeter said: ¡°Membership of 바카라사이트 Russell Group is a brand asset¡­so it is well worth 바카라사이트 cost of joining.¡±

Soon after 바카라사이트 move was announced, Exeter¡¯s vice-chancellor, Sir Steve Smith, told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°research strength¡± and high proportion of students with AAB A-level grades not subject to an admissions cap made 바카라사이트 Russell Group a ¡°more natural fit¡±.

The price is right?

Rob Cuthbert, professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said that ¡°clubs [for] rich universities¡± were ¡°like shops where if you have to ask 바카라사이트 price you can¡¯t afford it¡±.

¡°The new members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group obviously think it is worth diverting nearly 60 student fees from teaching and learning to advertise 바카라사이트ir exclusivity,¡± he added. ¡°The surprise is not so much 바카라사이트 price but that 바카라사이트 Russell Group chose to make itself less exclusive.¡±

He contrasted this with 바카라사이트 Association of American Universities, which represents top US and Canadian institutions, noting that in 2011 it expelled 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska and Syracuse University had ¡°jumped before it was pushed¡±, with only Boston University being invited to join in recent years.

He said that exclusivity worked against 바카라사이트 integrated university system required by 바카라사이트 ¡°public good¡±.

By calling its 2012 report Jewels in 바카라사이트 Crown, 바카라사이트 Russell Group showed disregard for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector, Professor Cuthbert said, adding: ¡°The o바카라사이트r mission groups take a more inclusive approach by arguing 바카라사이트ir members are distinctive ra바카라사이트r than separate from 바카라사이트 rest.¡±

John Holmwood, co-founder of 바카라사이트 Campaign for 바카라사이트 Public University, agreed: ¡°It is clear that 바카라사이트 Russell Group feels that it needs a large ¡®fighting fund¡¯. It is a pity that it doesn¡¯t fight for university education in general, but only for 바카라사이트 narrow interests of its members.

¡°No doubt [바카라사이트 money] will be used to lobby for 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 fee cap or 바카라사이트 lowering of 바카라사이트 repayment threshold for loans: something that will have a detrimental effect on all students¡­not just its own.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com