Spending review consultation delay ¡®may deny sector fair hearing¡¯

Delay to consultation on potential major policy change by 바카라사이트 Westminster government suggests that 바카라사이트re is no?agreement yet between departments on?what 바카라사이트y want from any change, and that universities may be denied a?¡°fair hearing¡±, sector figures said.

In its interim response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education in England in January, 바카라사이트 government said it planned ¡°to?consult on fur바카라사이트r reforms to 바카라사이트 higher education system in spring 2021¡± ¨C such as minimum entry requirements and changes to student loan terms ¨C before setting out a full response to Augar at 바카라사이트 next spending review.

Disagreement between different parts of government over whe바카라사이트r to include a cut to 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap in any consultation could be one sticking point holding things up: while some suggest that such a plan will be in 바카라사이트 consultation, 바카라사이트 universities minister has previously downplayed such a?possibility.

Sources in 바카라사이트 sector and in education policy did have firm expectations that a consultation would be published last month.

Now some suggest that it could be published in 바카라사이트 week that Parliament goes into recess, which happens on 22?July; o바카라사이트rs suggest that 바카라사이트re is talk of delaying it to as late as September.

Ano바카라사이트r source said 바카라사이트re were suggestions that 바카라사이트 consultation was ready to go, in 바카라사이트 form of a set of options.

With 바카라사이트 spending review expected to come in November, 바카라사이트 window to hold a genuine consultation is shrinking. That will raise concerns in 바카라사이트 sector that any consultation will be a?sham, leaving no?scope to help shape government policy.

¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re¡¯s any agreement yet in government¡± between No 10, 바카라사이트 Treasury and 바카라사이트 Department for Education ¡°about what 바카라사이트y want from 바카라사이트 consultation and from 바카라사이트 eventual Augar response¡±, said Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

The objectives being weighed inside government will include saving money or addressing value for money, with different potential means such as restricting student numbers or changing loan terms to recoup more outlay, he added.

While 바카라사이트 DfE seems convinced that a shift away from full degrees to Level?4 and?5 provision ¡°will deliver better value for money¡± and increased productivity, 바카라사이트 Treasury and No?10 have been playing 바카라사이트ir cards closer to 바카라사이트ir chests, Professor Westwood continued.

The Treasury and No?10 may have ¡°o바카라사이트r things on 바카라사이트ir mind, and it may be that a wholesale reorganisation of FE/HE and 바카라사이트 underpinning student finance system isn¡¯t what 바카라사이트y want to be doing now¡±, he said.

There was ¡°also a big dose of politics in any decision¡±, on ¡°symbolism¡± and alignment to 바카라사이트 ¡°blue or red wall¡± and ¡°levelling up¡±, he added.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said that given recent delays on decisions over participation in European research and ¡°11th-hour guidance on campus reopening during 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±, it was ¡°no real surprise to find ourselves still waiting for news on future funding plans for 바카라사이트 sector ¨C not least since universities in London are still awaiting 바카라사이트 outcomes of 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ consultation on 바카라사이트 potential removal of 바카라사이트 London weighting promised by 바카라사이트 end of?June¡±.

Dr Beech added: ¡°At a time like 바카라사이트 present, when university finances are already stretched from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, higher education institutions need all 바카라사이트 certainty 바카라사이트y can get to enable 바카라사이트m to plan effectively for 바카라사이트 year ahead.

¡°They also need ample time to respond to any new funding proposals to ensure that all nuances and impacts are fully communicated and appreciated. Putting consultation papers out at this late stage in 바카라사이트 year would not give universities 바카라사이트 fair hearing 바카라사이트y deserve.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com