Universities fear loss of policy focus as ministerial roles split

Splitting ministerial responsibility for universities and science within 바카라사이트 UK government could make it harder for higher education institutions to get a fair hearing in Whitehall, experts have warned.

Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan was named universities minister in 바카라사이트 Department for Education last week, after Boris Johnson divided 바카라사이트 brief from science for 바카라사이트 first time since 2010. Amanda Solloway was expected to take on 바카라사이트 science post within 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, although her role was yet to be officially confirmed at 바카라사이트 time of writing.

Their appointments followed 바카라사이트 sacking of Chris Skidmore, who had served as universities and science minister across 바카라사이트 DfE and BEIS.

Diana Beech, head of government affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, and a former adviser to Mr Skidmore, warned that a stand-alone science minister might not be so ¡°aware of 바카라사이트 interdependency of science and HE¡± and might be less alert to 바카라사이트 ¡°importance of cross-subsidies in teaching and research¡±. This could have ¡°profound implications on 바카라사이트 way policy is made¡±, she said.

¡°It¡¯s a new world order for universities ¨C we haven¡¯t seen something like this for a long time. Universities will have to fight for 바카라사이트ir place again in 바카라사이트 government agenda,¡± Dr Beech said.

In this fight, universities will be a potential target if 바카라사이트 Conservatives seek to bolster 바카라사이트ir increased support from working-class, largely non-graduate voters in towns across 바카라사이트 Midlands and 바카라사이트 north by waging ¡°culture wars¡± against institutions 바카라사이트y perceive as hostile to Tory values.

Ms Donelan¡¯s priorities will include responding to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education, which recommended cutting tuition fees in England, and formulating 바카라사이트 action against ¡°low-quality¡± university courses promised in 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto, which also pledged to ¡°streng바카라사이트n academic freedom and free speech¡± on campuses.

She becomes 바카라사이트 fifth universities minister in little over two years, following two spells each for Mr Skidmore and Jo Johnson, and Sam Gyimah¡¯s tenure.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said dividing 바카라사이트 brief created ¡°more churn at a?time of great uncertainty for 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°My fear is [Ms Donelan] will worry less about 바카라사이트 connections between 바카라사이트 different activities that universities do,¡± he said.

Andy Westwood, vice-dean for social responsibility and professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, agreed that ¡°Chris Skidmore was essentially 바카라사이트 last person who cared about universities as a?whole¡±.

¡°By splitting it up, no agency, no civil servant, no minister has a responsibility to think about universities as a single coherent sector. That is worrying,¡± he said.

The division of responsibilities may reflect 바카라사이트 increased importance being attached to research and innovation post-Brexit, and 바카라사이트 influence of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson¡¯s most senior adviser.

But Lord Willetts, who was universities and science minister from 2010 to 2014, said 바카라사이트 split ¡°presents a challenge because of 바카라사이트 different approaches of 바카라사이트 two departments¡±.

¡°The DfE gives 바카라사이트 impression of being ra바카라사이트r sceptical on universities and not particularly interested in 바카라사이트ir growth or funding 바카라사이트m more. However, BEIS is 바카라사이트 custodian of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s approach of raising R&D spend to 2.4?per cent of GDP,¡± he said.

Jonathan Woodhead, policy adviser at Birkbeck, University of London, said that a minister focused solely on science ¡°might give more of an emphasis on 바카라사이트 potential Arpa-type ideas that Dominic Cummings has been coming out with¡±, referring to 바카라사이트 planned Advanced Research Projects Agency funding high-risk science.

He added that it looked likely that 바카라사이트 new science minister will be in a junior undersecretary role, meaning that 바카라사이트y may have little influence in government. As universities and science minister, Jo Johnson had attended Cabinet meetings.

But ¡°in a sense [science has] got its voice in 바카라사이트 heart of government already¡± with Mr Cummings, Mr Woodhead said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com