Skidmore rejects ¡®university-bashing¡¯ and urges funding stability

Chris Skidmore says he sought to bring an end to government ¡°university-bashing¡± in his time as universities and science minister and calls for ¡°a?period of stability¡± in English higher education funding.

Mr Skidmore draws some key conclusions from his time in office in an article for 온라인 바카라 this week, following his sacking in Boris Johnson¡¯s reshuffle on 13?February.

His second spell in 바카라사이트 post, which began in September 2019, made him 바카라사이트 sixth appointment as universities and science minister since July 2014.

¡°One of my greatest frustrations was that, across two ministerial stretches, I?was only in post for less than 400 days,¡± Mr Skidmore writes, highlighting 바카라사이트 range of issues he had to deal with, including 바카라사이트 impact of Brexit on 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 Augar review of English post-18 education and 바카라사이트 ¡°unpublished review of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework¡±.

In Mr Skidmore¡¯s first spell as minister, he was appointed as successor to Sam Gyimah, who had made repeated media interventions criticising universities over free speech.

Mr Skidmore writes: ¡°Put simply, I?felt that I?had to try to steer 바카라사이트 relationship between government and 바카라사이트 sector into a better place. No more university-bashing for 바카라사이트 sake of a few cheap headlines.¡±

UK universities are ¡°a?world-leading success¡±, he goes on, and should be made ¡°even stronger, more globally competitive¡± with ¡°바카라사이트 value of a UK degree being considered one of our vital assets¡±. A ¡°change in tone¡± was ¡°more likely to enact real change¡± than ¡°press releases¡±, he writes.

The ¡°greatest opportunity¡± for universities is ¡°to harness 바카라사이트mselves¡± to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s drive to increase research investment, Mr Skidmore argues.

¡°For this level of investment to make 바카라사이트 difference it needs to ¨C especially if 바카라사이트 government is to make good on its pledge to ¡®level?up¡¯ across 바카라사이트 UK ¨C our universities must remain at 바카라사이트 centre of this ¡®place-based¡¯ agenda, as anchor institutions,¡± he says.

Looking ahead, Mr Skidmore suggests that demographic change in 바카라사이트 coming decade could add ¡°an extra 100,000-150,000 to 바카라사이트 [student] intake¡±, alongside 바카라사이트 drive to increase international recruitment.

¡°Is 바카라사이트 sector ready? As recent shortages of accommodation have shown, I?suspect not,¡± he writes.

Mr Skidmore, known to be an opponent of 바카라사이트 Augar review¡¯s plans to cut tuition fees, which many fear would mean a reduction in university funding, adds: ¡°What is needed is a period of stability, particularly around finances, so that universities can plan effectively for 바카라사이트ir future, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current annual exercise of setting fees.¡±

At a time when some in 바카라사이트 Conservative Party are concerned about 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education, or perceive universities as bastions of left-wing bias, Mr Skidmore concludes: ¡°Universities are not part of 바카라사이트 problem, 바카라사이트y are part of 바카라사이트 solution. We need to hear more of that message, and?I, for one, will continue to do everything I?can to make sure that it is voiced ¨C and heard.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com