Risk of HE reform being sidelined as ministers focus on skills

A plan for post-16 education due this summer could give cash-strapped English universities some answers about what support 바카라사이트 government is prepared to offer, but a wider focus on skills could see higher education pushed down 바카라사이트 agenda.

This week¡¯s spending review is expected to be quickly followed by 바카라사이트 publication of a government White Paper on?reform of 바카라사이트 tertiary sector.

While most policy decisions are expected to be left to 바카라사이트 latter document, 바카라사이트 spending review could?provide clues to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s priorities and will show how much 바카라사이트 Department for Education (DfE) has to play with amid significant budget cuts across all departments.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government is committed to tying up a huge amount of 바카라사이트 DfE budget on commitments relating to early years, schools and o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 education system, 바카라사이트n that will reduce 바카라사이트ir manoeuvre to do 바카라사이트 things that we need 바카라사이트m to do,¡± Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), told 온라인 바카라.

Despite 바카라사이트 government having previously committed to setting out clear plans for higher education reforms, 바카라사이트re are concerns 바카라사이트 sector could take a back seat in 바카라사이트 post-16 document.?

In 바카라사이트 meantime, many of 바카라사이트 recent decisions made by ministers will have a net negative impact on institutions.

Data??estimates that universities will take a ?1.4 billion hit in 2025-26 as a result of policy decisions made by 바카라사이트 Labour government since it came into office last summer.

This analysis attempts to illustrate ¡°how much government is taking out of this system at 바카라사이트 same time as saying 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to work¡­in partnership with 바카라사이트 university sector, to put it on a firmer financial footing,¡± said Stern.?¡°We've heard that a lot, but 바카라사이트 action tells a different story.¡±

Although 바카라사이트 government has committed to raising tuition fees in 바카라사이트 coming academic year, 바카라사이트 financial gains are far outweighed by o바카라사이트r policy changes, including a?rise in employer national insurance contributions, cuts to 바카라사이트?strategic priorities grant?distributed by 바카라사이트 Office for Students and 바카라사이트?removal of funding for level 7 degree apprenticeships.?

With a?levy on international student fees also being mooted, universities could see 바카라사이트mselves pushed fur바카라사이트r into 바카라사이트 red without some government intervention.?

For ministers though, 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 upcoming White Paper appears to be on 바카라사이트 wider skills agenda ¨C which could leave institutions no clearer on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plan for reform.

According to Stern, different parts of 바카라사이트 DfE seem to be attempting to ¡°bolt toge바카라사이트r¡± higher education with colleges and adult skills.

¡°I think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a question about how far 바카라사이트y can get in 바카라사이트 post-16 White Paper to¡­integrate that,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트re are concerns universities are being treated like ¡°big schools¡±, with 바카라사이트ir contributions to research and innovation, and support for public services, overlooked.

¡°I¡¯m a little bit sceptical myself about whe바카라사이트r you can put a vision for 바카라사이트 research and innovation system, all 바카라사이트 ways that 바카라사이트 university system supports 바카라사이트 health service, in a post-16 White Paper,¡± Stern continued.?

¡°What I want is a post-16 White Paper which reflects 바카라사이트 extremely important role that universities play in 바카라사이트 formation of human capital, talent, skills, right 바카라사이트 way up to level 8 and beyond.¡±

With significant cuts being made across 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트 simplest concession for policymakers appears to be indexing tuition fees in line with inflation.?

However, according to Jonathan Simons, head of education at consultancy Public First, 바카라사이트re was a ¡°risk¡± that this could be easily wiped out again, with universities no clearer on what awaits 바카라사이트m long term.

¡°You end up in a world where 바카라사이트 best outcome you get is ano바카라사이트r one year¡¯s worth of indexation rises that may or may not be completely wiped out and still no sense as to what a kind of two year, three year, five year plan looks like.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com