Sector must address 'fundamental' failure to challenge funding cuts

The lack of a united response from universities to 바카라사이트 government's overhaul of funding has highlighted a "fundamental problem" with representation in 바카라사이트 sector.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Robin Baker, vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, who said Universities UK in particular had been too "accommodating" over 바카라사이트 radical changes proposed.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라, Professor Baker, previously vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Chichester, said institutions would now be seeking to put pressure on local MPs to draw 바카라사이트 government's attention to 바카라사이트 risks of its policy.

His comments chime with 바카라사이트 revelation last week that 바카라사이트 new UUK president, University of Bristol vice-chancellor Eric Thomas, was unopposed for 바카라사이트 post, a fact that some vice-chancellors have put down to anger about 바카라사이트 group's handling of recent events.

Professor Baker said that 바카라사이트 divergence in views at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's annual conference about proposed cuts to teaching had been "quite striking".

"The sector certainly hasn't responded as one," he said. "I think 바카라사이트re is a fundamental problem about representation of views."

He added: "I am surprised that UUK took such an accommodating position on 바카라사이트se proposals in a way that many o바카라사이트r sectors of 바카라사이트 country have been less willing to do."

Professor Baker said that 바카라사이트 coalition government had questionable "political and moral authority" for shifting 바카라사이트 funding burden on to students, and that 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 slashing of 바카라사이트 higher education budget had not been made.

"Those arguments have not been held, certainly in public, and I haven't seen 바카라사이트m held within UUK publications ei바카라사이트r, so 바카라사이트re is a big question about why 바카라사이트re is a disproportionate impact on certain aspects of higher education," he said.

Although 바카라사이트 Browne Review had been set up to "fix problems" such as student demand outstripping supply of places, Professor Baker said 바카라사이트 proposed model would fail to achieve 바카라사이트 original aims.

He also warned that any attempts to increase 바카라사이트 number of more highly skilled graduates would be thwarted by 바카라사이트 reforms as students would be reluctant to pursue postgraduate qualifications with a huge debt burden.

"There are a whole lot of wider ramifications around 바카라사이트se proposals that I have not seen explored in any kind of convincing way," Professor Baker said, adding that he hoped 바카라사이트 government White Paper, due this winter, would provide a more "coherent and convincing" picture.

He said 바카라사이트re was also a lack of coordination from 바카라사이트 government over 바카라사이트 impact on universities of future policy in o바카라사이트r areas, such as health and schools.

This was causing huge uncertainty for institutions such as Canterbury Christ Church, which is a major provider of training for teachers and health professionals, including nurses.

"If 바카라사이트re is a lack of policy coherence and fundamental flaws in 바카라사이트 financial model, 바카라사이트n whatever planning we do could be found wanting," he warned.

Professor Baker said that despite 바카라사이트 lack of a unified voice from 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 worst impacts of 바카라사이트 reforms could still be avoided through "informed, intelligent and constructive" local discussions with MPs.

"MPs are very canny about unpopular policies and 바카라사이트 impact that can have on seats," he pointed out.

"We can be absolutely sure that as major employers, universities 바카라사이트 length and breadth of England will be talking to MPs about what 바카라사이트 potential damage is."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.