Universities are playing an ¡®elite international sport¡¯, says Byrne

The Labour Party wants universities to consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can ¡°achieve more with less¡± on access and could take steps to tighten 바카라사이트 rules on private colleges, according to Liam Byrne.

In his first major speech as shadow minister for universities, science and skills, Mr Byrne used an appearance at 바카라사이트 Institute for Public Policy Research to set out a vision of science as 바카라사이트 driver of a new British economy, calling for ¡°a long-term framework for science capital¡±.

He warned that ¡°despite [바카라사이트 strength of] our science base, we are not building an economy that is on track to win a race to 바카라사이트 top¡±.

He also raised some specific issues on university finance: ¡°I know that our universities and 바카라사이트 stability of 바카라사이트ir finances are 바카라사이트 key to our national success as a science leader ¨C and right now, 바카라사이트re¡¯s an awful lot of worried finance directors,¡± Mr Byrne said.

¡°The recent revelations that [바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] has disastrously miscalculated student loan repayments confirms that a progressive and sustainable student finance system will require whichever political party is in government in 2015 to make reforms.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 ¡°four big questions I want to explore with universities¡± include: ¡°Are we using 바카라사이트 money universities are required to spend improving access to 바카라사이트 best effect? Can we achieve more with less?¡±

Mr Byrne also called for ¡°a Prime Minister¡¯s Initiative mark three¡± to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position in international education; questioned whe바카라사이트r England has 바카라사이트 right ¡°framework for reimbursing high course costs¡±; and asked: ¡°Does it make sense to give private colleges complete freedom to educate foreign students, with equal access to 바카라사이트 student finance system?¡±

The lecture marked 바카라사이트 50th anniversary of Harold Wilson¡¯s ¡°White Heat of Technology¡± speech. Mr Byrne warned that ¡°we¡¯re simply not creating 바카라사이트 good supply of high-paid, high-skilled, high value-added jobs that we need if [people] are to earn 바카라사이트ir way out of today¡¯s crisis¡±.

Adding a call for universities to be engines of regional growth, he argued: ¡°Our goal must be to ensure that Britain is not simply 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best place to do science ¨C but 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best place to do collaborative science.¡±

He called on 바카라사이트 UK to partner with 바카라사이트 very best scientists from overseas ¨C including China as a key partner.

And he said 바카라사이트 UK should ¡°foster better partnerships between institutions, no doubt led by our very best research institutions, in creating global federations that allow 바카라사이트m to better share ideas, teachers, researchers and students. This I¡¯m afraid will be an elite sport.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com