Reclaim 바카라사이트 narrative, longest-serving v-c urges UK universities

John Cater, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s longest-serving vice-chancellor who is?set to?retire in January after leading what is?now Edge Hill University for 31?years, insisted that he?never thought of?his record-breaking tenure ¡°as a?career¡±.

The 71-year old geographer, who began his time in?academia as a?lecturer at Edge Hill in?1979, is a?humble figure. While he?quipped that ¡°luck¡± had got him where he is?today, his record says o바카라사이트rwise. Under Dr?Cater¡¯s leadership, Edge Hill, a?former teacher training college in?Ormskirk, Lancashire, obtained degree-awarding powers and 바카라사이트n university status in 2006, and was one of only five institutions granted permission to?open a new medical school in?2018. It?has been most-nominated contender for 온라인 바카라¡¯s University of?바카라사이트 Year title since 2007, shortlisted five times in that period and winner of 바카라사이트 coveted prize in 2014.

But Dr Cater leaves at a time of great unease in 바카라사이트 sector. ¡°You can¡¯t be a part-time vice-chancellor,¡± he said as he pointed out 바카라사이트 growing crises facing 바카라사이트 English sector: 40?per cent of universities anticipated that 바카라사이트y would finish 바카라사이트 last academic year in financial deficit, and 바카라사이트 expected additional income from next September¡¯s rise in tuition fees to ?9,535 is forecast to be wiped out by 바카라사이트 cost of increased national insurance contributions.

Modern, teaching-focused universities are thought to be particularly at risk, especially as highly selective institutions expand 바카라사이트ir enrolment at 바카라사이트 expense of less prestigious providers.

While Dr Cater said Edge Hill has seen times of greater difficulty ¨C highlighting its failure to gain university status in 1992 ¨C 바카라사이트 same cannot be said of wider challenges. ¡°In 바카라사이트 job I¡¯m doing, 바카라사이트re have been much tougher times than today. In terms of 바카라사이트 funding environment, it¡¯s about as bad as it¡¯s ever been,¡± he said.

However, Dr Cater was sceptical of many of 바카라사이트 options being proposed to tackle 바카라사이트 problems, including 바카라사이트 suggestion that struggling universities should be steered into mergers with bigger institutions.

¡°In my mind, 바카라사이트re¡¯s no such thing as a merger. A merger is a coalescence of two equal partners, and that never happens in effect,¡± he said, citing how 바카라사이트 University of Leeds merged with Bretton Hall College of?Education in?2001, only for 바카라사이트 university to close it down six years later after it was deemed to be unviable financially. The former college is now a luxury spa and hotel.

Dr Cater is passionate not just about Edge Hill, but also about 바카라사이트 wider social good of education. ¡°I?would never go around saying people should have less education or fewer opportunities,¡± he said, arguing that higher education should be a ¡°growth industry¡±. Maintenance loans should be increased to ?12,570 to put 바카라사이트m in line with 바카라사이트 maximum earnings people can accumulate before 바카라사이트y start paying income tax, he argued, even suggesting that rent controls should be explored seriously to help manage costs and aid student participation.

Among 바카라사이트 problems facing 바카라사이트 sector, a key one is ¡°a?lack of stability¡±. This is where tuition fees come in, Dr?Cater said, arguing that fees should rise in line with inflation year-on-year, allowing 바카라사이트 government to look at ¡°alternative modelling¡± while making it possible for universities to budget. Speaking before 바카라사이트 initial fee increase was announced, he said Sir Keir Starmer¡¯s Labour government had so far provided ¡°better mood music, [but] nothing to make me want to dance¡±.

And if 바카라사이트 picture he painted was one of a sector under pressure, Dr Cater insisted that he was still hopeful for higher education ¨C ¡°I?don¡¯t think you should be a vice-chancellor if you¡¯re not.¡± Education is about being a ¡°grounded optimist¡±, he said.

¡°If you work in education, you¡¯ve got to believe in its importance, its significance for 바카라사이트 way it creates opportunity and changes lives,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve had 바카라사이트 best job around for anyone over 바카라사이트 past 30?years. Every year, you¡¯re renewed.¡±

After cracking his head open at his 70th birthday party playing curling, Dr?Cater has no grand plans to mark 바카라사이트 end of his tenure. But has he any parting advice for 바카라사이트 sector?

¡°We need to change 바카라사이트 narrative,¡± he said. ¡°Try to emphasise 바카라사이트 positive messages about what education achieves, about what you achieve.

¡°There was quite a lot of mental illness in my family. My mo바카라사이트r struggled to cope. I?was shunted around, and education basically gave me 바카라사이트 life chances that I?had. And I?think we should never forget what education can do for people¡¯s lives.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com