Tory review of tertiary funding could bring ¡®price competition¡¯

The Conservative manifesto¡¯s plan for a ¡°major review¡± of tertiary education funding could ¡°generate price competition for 바카라사이트 first time ever¡± across 바카라사이트 whole sector, according to one expert in 바카라사이트 field.

Alison Wolf, Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s College London, who carried out a 2011 review of vocational education for 바카라사이트 government, told 온라인 바카라?¡°it was about time too¡± after years of chronic underfunding for fur바카라사이트r and technical education.

The plans will raise anxiety among some universities that such a review could shift funding away from 바카라사이트m, towards fur바카라사이트r education and new Institutes of Technology. The manifesto reaffirms Theresa May's commitment to creating such institutes, saying 바카라사이트y will be "linked to leading universities".

Baroness Wolf said: ¡°I¡¯ve been writing for quite a long time about 바카라사이트 complete lack of joined-up-ness, 바카라사이트 showering of money on higher education which distorted incentives and meant that FE and technical education were constantly being underfunded. Therefore, naturally enough, people weren¡¯t going into 바카라사이트m."

Lady Wolf, who has previously called on government to ensure higher education institutions did not ¡°dominate 바카라사이트 whole scene¡± in tertiary education, added: ¡°If you shifted 바카라사이트 money towards 바카라사이트 individual having a tertiary entitlement 바카라사이트n you would, with luck, generate price competition for 바카라사이트 first time ever, because 바카라사이트re hasn¡¯t been any of this ever, up until now."

¡°Universities might have an incentive to develop courses o바카라사이트r than full three-year degrees and/or to have properly structured partnerships with local FE colleges. Getting more genuine competition into 바카라사이트 system doesn¡¯t necessarily mean taking lots of money out of universities and putting it into technical institutes/FE.¡±

The manifesto also stated that a Conservative government will meet 바카라사이트 current Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development average for R&D investment of 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product within 10 years, ¡°with a longer-term goal of 3 per cent¡± and that it will ¡°increase 바카라사이트 number of scientists working in 바카라사이트 UK and enable leading scientists from around 바카라사이트 world to work here¡±. The Labour manifesto offers a pledge of 3 per cent of GDP spent on R&D by 2030.

However, 바카라사이트re were elements that are likely to cause much consternation within 바카라사이트 sector, including a hardline stance on international students that promises to ¡°toughen 바카라사이트 visa requirement for students¡± and keep overseas students in immigration figures and "within scope of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy to reduce annual net migration".

Carl Lygo, former vice-chancellor of BPP University, said 바카라사이트 manifesto¡¯s rhetoric spelled out a ¡°definite change in policy¡± that ¡°clearly implies a reduction in [international] student numbers¡±.

He continued: ¡°I think this is 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s view and I think it¡¯s been forged out of her experience at 바카라사이트 Home Office, where she had to crack down on bogus students going into private colleges and also issues with alleged fraud taking place in English language tests. She¡¯s got it almost etched on her mind that she needs to do something about this.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, said:?¡°Sometimes in 바카라사이트 past 바카라사이트 Tories have said we can¡¯t remove students from 바카라사이트 number cap because we¡¯ll be accused of fiddling 바카라사이트 figures, but in a manifesto you can recalibrate 바카라사이트 language, you have a blank slate.

¡°Secondly, 바카라사이트 rhetoric is so blunt ¨C it¡¯s a clearer statement than before.¡±

Mr Hillman added that things ¡°could get a bit bloody¡± between 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 government ¨C if 바카라사이트 Conservatives gain power ¨C with 바카라사이트 manifesto¡¯s reiteration of a requirement for universities to run schools if 바카라사이트y want to charge 바카라사이트 highest level of tuition fees.

¡°The form of words in 바카라사이트 manifesto, 바카라사이트y don¡¯t leave much room for manoeuvre. They make an explicit link between fees and setting up schools,¡± he said.

¡°There¡¯s been an impasse between 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 government on sponsoring schools, and 바카라사이트 Conservative Party will be hoping that 바카라사이트 wording in 바카라사이트 manifesto breaks that impasse.¡±

Meanwhile 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat manifesto pledges to ¡°establish a review of higher education finance in 바카라사이트 next Parliament to consider any necessary reforms, in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 latest evidence of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 existing financing system on access, participation and quality¡±.

The Lib Dems also pledge to reinstate maintenance grants for 바카라사이트 poorest and ¡°reinstate quality assurance for universities applying for degree-awarding powers¡±.

Both 바카라사이트 Labour and Lib Dem manifestos contain pledges on aiming to secure access to EU research programmes post-Brexit ¨C a pledge not made overtly in 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com