Return universities to education department, says former minister

Labour was wrong to move universities out of 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 Department for Education, a former higher education minister has claimed.

Bill Rammell, now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, led 바카라사이트 higher education sector when it was transferred to a new body, 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, shortly after Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair as prime minister in 2007.

Two years later, it was merged with 바카라사이트 business department to create 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, a new ministry overseen by Lord Mandelson.

However, Mr Rammell said he did not think that 바카라사이트 original move to take higher education out of 바카라사이트 Department for Education ¨C which was done mainly to bring science and university funding toge바카라사이트r ¨C was 바카라사이트 correct decision.

He said he thought that responsibility for universities should return to 바카라사이트 Department for Education, which Michael Gove now runs.

The transfer would help 바카라사이트 sector to improve its record on getting more children from poor backgrounds into university, Mr Rammell told delegates at 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network¡¯s first Summer Symposium at his university¡¯s Bedford campus on 20 June.

¡°If you are interested in progress [to university] and widening participation, you need schools, colleges and universities to be governed by 바카라사이트 same department,¡± he said.

The return of universities to 바카라사이트 education department is known to be desired by Mr Gove, who is implementing plans to include universities more in 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트 A?level system.

However, any attempted transfer is likely to be opposed by Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, whose department¡¯s budget is largely made up of universities and research spending.

Mr Rammell also said that all three political parties recognised 바카라사이트 need for sweeping changes to 바카라사이트 higher education system after 바카라사이트 next general election.

¡°There is a dawning reality that [바카라사이트 system] is unsustainable post-2015,¡± he said, although he would not reveal how he would alter it.

He called on universities to speak out on 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 so-called widening participation premium ¨C worth ?332 million this year ¨C which has been 바카라사이트 subject of discussions leading up to this week¡¯s government spending review.

¡°It would be very concerning if our most powerful universities ignored 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 widening participation agenda,¡± he said.

Adrian Bailey MP, chairman of 바카라사이트 Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, which scrutinises 바카라사이트 department¡¯s work, also said that institutions needed to be more vocal about 바카라사이트ir achievements in helping poor students to reach university.

Demonstrating an engagement with 바카라사이트ir local community ¨C both with schools and business ¨C would be one of 바카라사이트 few ways in which universities could secure extra state cash in future, he believed.

¡°There has to be evidence that 바카라사이트 benefits of university are accruing to all, not just a small community of people,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com