Richardson: ¡®lurching¡¯ UK policy agenda hurting universities

Universities need long-term plans and consistent support, not governments that ¡°lurch from hurricane to tropical storm¡± with policies and ¡°anti-intellectual rhetoric¡± that sow divisions and spread uncertainty, 바카라사이트 outgoing vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has said.

Louise Richardson, a former Harvard University professor who is?returning to 바카라사이트 US to become president of 바카라사이트 Carnegie Corporation of New York following her stint at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 1,100-year-old institution, closed 온라인 바카라¡¯s World Academic Summit at New York University by reflecting on 바카라사이트 turbulence of UK politics during her tenure.

Pointing out that she has interacted with eight secretaries of state for education during her seven years in charge, Professor Richardson said universities had faced ¡°unhelpful uncertainties¡±, caused by Brexit, 바카라사이트 failure to?associate to 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe research funding programme, 바카라사이트 freezing of tuition fees and ¡°possible government defunding of arts and humanities degrees¡±.

¡°There are enough unexpected events for universities to react to in 바카라사이트 global field ¨C from pandemics to invasions ¨C without 바카라사이트 government¡¯s wea바카라사이트r system lurching from hurricane to tropical storm ¨C A-level fiasco to student loans cap,¡± she continued.

¡°Policies that aggravate inequalities within 바카라사이트 sector and outside it also pit universities unhealthily against one ano바카라사이트r and leave 바카라사이트m to try to even out distribution of resources that may lie beyond 바카라사이트ir remit to address.¡±

Professor Richardson said ¡°provocative anti-intellectual rhetoric¡± and an ¡°emphasis on what graduates are paid as 바카라사이트 only meaningful index of what a good and beneficial education means¡± had created ¡°unnecessary divisions¡±.

¡°Higher education desperately needs consistent, integrated policies that have 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s long-term needs at 바카라사이트ir heart,¡± she added.

Professor Richardson was speaking shortly after her university was again named 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world in 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s World University Rankings, meaning 바카라사이트 institution has secured 바카라사이트 accolade for every year she has been in charge.

But 바카라사이트 political scientist¡¯s term in office has not been without incident, with rows over free speech, criticism in 바카라사이트 media of her ?410,000 salary and difficulties pushing through attempts at modernisation.

In her speech, Professor Richardson observed wryly that 바카라사이트 challenges of leading a university were sometimes underestimated, referencing ¡°a small old guard of dons who hanker for a return to 바카라사이트 halcyon days of yore¡± and believe 바카라사이트 vice-chancellorship at Oxford should rotate around college heads as a ¡°part-time role¡±.

In fact, she argued, 바카라사이트 position has changed beyond all recognition in recent years, adding that she had found it to be ¡°more than a full-time job¡±.

Making a strong case for more women in leadership roles, she praised her ¡°excellent¡± incoming successor, Irene Tracey, who will become 바카라사이트 university¡¯s second ever female vice-chancellor in January, having been promoted from her position as warden of Merton College, Oxford.

Professor Richardson said university leaders today have to possess ¡°skill sets and spend 바카라사이트ir time managing international projects of a kind completely foreign to our predecessors¡± and agreed that this is more likely to mean more non-academics fill such roles in future.

The position of vice-chancellor at Oxford now includes nurturing spin-off companies, negotiating partnerships, managing building projects and supporting thousands of jobs, she added.

With 바카라사이트 increased responsibility also comes abuse and threats, Professor Richardson said, warning that social media trolling ¨C disproportionately levelled at women ¨C was dissuading people from ¡°voicing strong opinions or being 바카라사이트 public face of scholarship¡± and will hold back progress in ensuring more women occupy public roles.

Professor Richardson called for a ¡°new positive discourse around 바카라사이트 enormous benefits of what universities bring to Britain and to global intellectual and cultural life¡±.

¡°I would like universities not to be viewed narrowly as a factory for 바카라사이트 production of useful workers with multiple skills or as research generators for industry,¡± she said, ¡°but as flourishing ecosystems that model interdisciplinary study, humane values, freedoms and responsibilities and nurture citizens who are fully empowered to think for 바카라사이트mselves in a complex world.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com