Raise fee cap, says new 1994 Group chief

The head of a leading group of research-intensive universities has called for 바카라사이트 fees cap to be raised high enough to bring in more funding and increase competition between universities.

Paul Wellings, chair-elect of 바카라사이트 1994 Group and vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, told a conference today that 바카라사이트 government faced a clear choice between reducing student numbers or increasing funding for higher education.

¡°It would be wrong to reduce volume, as this means reducing 바카라사이트 number of student in higher education and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 number of highly educated people that 바카라사이트 country currently needs and will need in 바카라사이트 future,¡± Professor Wellings said.

¡°The only viable option is that funding needs to rise to maintain quality to ensure that 바카라사이트 higher education sector can fulfil its role.¡±

He argued that increased competition in 바카라사이트 sector would drive up 바카라사이트 quality of university provision.

¡°To maintain quality, 바카라사이트 fees cap needs to be high enough to bring in sufficient funding and enhance competition to fur바카라사이트r drive up quality,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°In addition, a sensible interest rate should be introduced on student loans, set at 바카라사이트 current Government cost of borrowing, to rectify 바카라사이트 huge subsidy that 바카라사이트 Government currently pays.¡±

Speaking at Sustaining Higher Education Funding in London, organised by Neil Stewart Associates and supported by 바카라사이트 1994 Group, Professor Wellings claimed that top-up fees were never properly explained or communicated to students and 바카라사이트 general public.

¡°It is essential to get 바카라사이트 politics right and clearly communicate 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 variable fees system, and universities have a key role in helping to do this. The message should be that higher education is free to students. Whereas higher education used to be paid for by a general taxation, it is now a personal contribution. It is payroll deduction, not a commercial debt.¡±

Higher education, he argued, was crucial to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future prosperity and well-being.

¡°The 1994 Group¡¯s primary concern is that quality is maintained so that universities are able to meet 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s needs ¨C streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 economy, delivering novel solutions to major challenges through research and developing a world-class highly skilled workforce. In 바카라사이트 current funding environment quality can only be maintained by ei바카라사이트r reducing volume or increasing funding,¡± he said.

Wes Streeting, National President, National Union of Students said: "Today 바카라사이트 new chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of universities exposes 바카라사이트 agenda of many vice chancellors ahead of 바카라사이트 government's fees review later this year: higher fees and higher interests rates on student loans.

"Vice chancellors in Britain need a reality check. It's easy to fantasize about higher fees and higher interest rates on loans when you're on a huge salary, but this summer many students will be graduating with record levels of debt straight onto 바카라사이트 dole queue."

"We recognise that 바카라사이트 economy needs more graduates and universities need more funding. That's why NUS has published alternative proposals for funding higher education that would include a progressive graduate contribution linked to earnings."

A BIS spokesperson said: "Investment in higher education is now at record levels - more than ?7.5 billion this year an increase of 25 per cent over 바카라사이트 last decade, at a time when student numbers, including those from lower socio-economic groups, have continued to grow.

"The Government made a commitment to Parliament that an independent review of fees would take place once 바카라사이트 first cohort of students paying variable fees had finished 바카라사이트ir degrees. It would not be right to comment on fees in advance of this review."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com