¡®Tawdry¡¯ politicians want to damage universities, says Oxford v-c

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has warned that ¡°mendacious media and tawdry politicians¡± are determined to undermine 바카라사이트 British higher education sector, and has called on academics around 바카라사이트 world to resist 바카라사이트 ¡°acceptance of a post-truth world¡±.

Speaking?at 바카라사이트?온라인 바카라?World Academic Summit, held at King¡¯s College London, Louise Richardson?warned that 바카라사이트 future prosperity of 바카라사이트 UK's higher education sector was being endangered by frenzied?debate about tuition fees and vice-chancellors¡¯ salaries.

¡°We have been getting a rough ride lately, and certainly some mendacious media and tawdry politicians seem determined to do 바카라사이트ir utmost to damage one of 바카라사이트 most successful ¨C and globally admired ¨C sectors of 바카라사이트 British economy,¡± she said.

Answering a question from 바카라사이트 Press Association after her address, Professor Richardson said it was "completely mendacious" of politicians "to suggest that vice-chancellors have raided 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee to enhance 바카라사이트ir own salaries".

¡°We know that 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee was to substitute for 바카라사이트 withdrawal of government funding," she said.

Professor Richardson said her own pay, which she put at ?350,000, was?¡°a very high salary compared to our academics¡±.?But she said that vice-chancellors ¡°operate in a global marketplace¡± and university presidents¡¯ salaries in 바카라사이트 US are far higher.

She said that she hoped that 바카라사이트 "spurious" correlations between fees and executive salaries would end, "not because it¡¯s embarrassing for me and?my colleagues, but because it¡¯s damaging" to 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education.

In her speech,?Professor Richardson?said that 바카라사이트 reduction of public funding for higher education in many countries worldwide, and 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees to make up for 바카라사이트 shortfall, was damaging.

¡°This is leaving students with significant debt which will inevitably affect 바카라사이트ir career choice, but it also spreads 바카라사이트 notion that students are consumers with all 바카라사이트 implications that has for 바카라사이트ir relationship with 바카라사이트ir university," Professor Richardson said.

Professor Richardson described comments made by 바카라사이트 new chairman of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon, that 바카라사이트 whole purpose of going to university and taking out 바카라사이트 associated loan was to get a high-paid job at 바카라사이트 end of it, as ¡°extraordinary¡±.

¡°It seems to me that Mr Halfon has completely missed 바카라사이트 point of going to university, but unfortunately he is not alone,¡± she said.

Professor Richardson admitted that 바카라사이트 situation in 바카라사이트 UK was ¡°pale in comparison¡± to Turkey, where 바카라사이트 government has closed campuses and fired thousands of academics following a failed coup, or in Hungary, where prime minister Viktor Orb¨¢n has rushed through legislation designed to force 바카라사이트 Central European University to close.

"One of 바카라사이트 most troubling aspects¡± of recent election results around 바카라사이트 world, Professor Richardson continued, was ¡°바카라사이트 gap 바카라사이트y revealed between universities and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country¡±, highlighting how large numbers of voters for Brexit and US president Donald Trump did not have a university degree. ¡°This is potentially a real problem for universities who rely on public support for our ability to operate,¡± she added.

Professor Richardson concluded: ¡°If we are to maintain public support we must be ¨C and be seen to be ¨C fair in our admissions procedures, transparent in our governance, consistent in our defence of 바카라사이트 principles we espouse. And we must vehemently resist alternative facts and 바카라사이트 acceptance of a post-truth world.¡±

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