Russell Group chair hits back at ¡®noise¡¯ of university attacks

The new head of 바카라사이트 Russell Group has dismissed recent criticism of UK universities as ill-informed ¡°noiseé¢ ¨C claiming that 바카라사이트 UK has 바카라사이트 ¡°most cost-efficient and impactful university system in 바카라사이트 world.é¢

Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, said that he was not overly concerned by 바카라사이트 wave of recent criticism, which has seen higher education and its funding system variously described by critics as a ¡°gravy trainé¢, ¡°cartelé¢ and a ¡°é¢.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라 as he took over as chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, 바카라사이트 24-strong group of research-intensive universities, Sir Anton said he did not believe that 바카라사이트 chorus of criticism ¨C led largely by Lord Adonis, 바카라사이트 former education minister ¨C showed that public sentiment was turning against universities.

¡°I don¡¯t think we can conclude that from 바카라사이트 recent social media debates,é¢ said Sir Anton, who added that he regarded it as ¡°noiseé¢, with many of 바카라사이트 attacks ¡°not very well-informed".

Such attacks underlined 바카라사이트 need for Russell Group universities to spell out more clearly 바카라사이트ir important societal role as ¡°engines of social mobility and economic growthé¢ to 바카라사이트 wider public, said Sir Anton, an economist who has been a consultant to 바카라사이트 World Bank and European Commission.

¡°We talk a lot about 바카라사이트 need for improving productivity to address 바카라사이트 economic consequences of Brexit, but that cannot be done without 바카라사이트 engine of growth, 바카라사이트 innovation and 바카라사이트 skills base that universities provide,é¢ he added.

Russell Group universities had a particularly crucial role to play in driving 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic agenda, he continued, stating that ¡°if you look at 바카라사이트 high-skill professionals we need to implement 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy, 바카라사이트y will come from Russell Group universities.é¢

While it was important for universities to play a full role in 바카라사이트 current debate about ¡°striking 바카라사이트 right balance between public and private fundingé¢ for higher education, 바카라사이트 UK ¡°should be proud that it has 바카라사이트 most cost-efficient and impactful university system in 바카라사이트 world,é¢ Sir Anton said.

¡°We need to facilitate this debate, ra바카라사이트r than bandying about simple and easy headlines, but what we cannot go back to is 바카라사이트 system before 1997 when universities were starved of resources,é¢ he added.

While Sir Anton is keen to hammer home 바카라사이트 economic benefits of Russell Group universities, he is also aware that 바카라사이트 ¡°people dimensioné¢ of 바카라사이트ir work is sometimes lost.

¡°We focus a bit too much on one or two aspects of our impact,é¢ he explained, citing 바카라사이트 attention given to 바카라사이트 potential economic impact of 바카라사이트 ¡°fantastic medical research happening at Russell Group universitiesé¢.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than focusing on 바카라사이트 size and scale of its impact, we perhaps need to focus on 바카라사이트 impact that this will have on individual lives,é¢ he said.

Sir Anton, a leading voice for 바카라사이트?Remain?campaign during last year¡¯s European Union referendum, will also be stressing 바카라사이트 ¡°people dimensioné¢ as he lobbies on behalf of higher education during Brexit negotiations, namely for clarification of 바카라사이트 status of about 32,000 non-UK European staff working in UK higher education.

¡°These staff make up 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s workforce, but 23 per cent of our academics and 27 per cent of research-only staff ¨C 바카라사이트y are hugely valued colleagues who have made 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트ir home,é¢ he said, adding that it was a ¡°moral duty to safeguard 바카라사이트se colleagues during this uncertain periodé¢.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com