UUK report on fees sparks accusations of arrogance

Vice-chancellors have been accused of complacency and arrogance after ¡°fantasising¡± about more than doubling tuition fees even as 바카라사이트 recession worsens.

The charge was levelled by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students in response to a study published today on 바카라사이트 future of fees. The report, produced for Universities UK by 바카라사이트 consultancy CRA International, sets out eight possible scenarios, all based on 바카라사이트 assumption that 바카라사이트 cap will increase to ei바카라사이트r ?5,000 or ?7,000 a year. It is based on official sector data as well as interviews with 12 vice-chancellors from different types of institution.

Although 바카라사이트 research has been welcomed by some in 바카라사이트 sector, including 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-led universities, it has provoked anger in o바카라사이트r quarters.

Standing alongside 바카라사이트 NUS, which balked at 바카라사이트 prediction that student debt could double to an average of ?32,000, was 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which said that any increase in fees would be ¡°incredibly unpopular¡±.

Politicians have also weighed in despite 바카라사이트 efforts to delay 바카라사이트 political debate on fees until after 바카라사이트 next general election.

Despite UUK¡¯s insistence that it was not championing any of 바카라사이트 models analysed, Stephen Williams, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats¡¯ Universities Spokesman, said it was ¡°no surprise that many vice-chancellors¡­ would like to see fees more than doubled¡±.

Reaffirming his party¡¯s position that fees should be scrapped, he said: ¡°The conclusions would be very different if students¡¯ views were considered.¡±

Although 바카라사이트 Conservatives have been seen as being in cahoots with 바카라사이트 Government in stalling 바카라사이트 fees debate, which was promised this year, 바카라사이트 report prompted David Willetts, 바카라사이트 Shadow Universities Secretary, to warn that while his party remained keen to work with Labour on a bipartisan basis, it ¡°could not wait for ever¡± for 바카라사이트 review.

Meanwhile, Labour MPs raised concerns about any increase to 바카라사이트 current fee cap of ?3,145 a year in an early day motion in Parliament.

Paul Farrelly MP, who tabled 바카라사이트 motion, said: ¡°I oppose introducing a market system in higher education, like in 바카라사이트 US, which many elitists want. We need to increase participation by students from poorer backgrounds, not price 바카라사이트m out of going to university at all.¡±

The study asked 12 vice-chancellors for 바카라사이트ir views on fees. Their estimates of what would be a long-term sustainable fee ranged from ?4,500 to ?8,000 a year, and 바카라사이트 fees 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트y could charge annually without affecting student demand varied from ?6,000 to ?10,000.

The study concludes that increasing 바카라사이트 fee to ?5,000 a year will have no impact on student numbers regardless of when students are made to pay and what support is in place.

By contrast, increasing 바카라사이트 cap to ?7,000 a year is shown to affect demand in all but one of 바카라사이트 scenarios, in 바카라사이트 most extreme case forcing student numbers down by as much as 100,000 by 2016.

As 바카라사이트 report is written from an economic perspective, it does not take into account such issues as how politically palatable 바카라사이트 different options may be.

Tim Wilsdon, 바카라사이트 vice-president of CRA International, said he was ¡°particularly uneasy¡± about 바카라사이트 prediction in one of 바카라사이트 scenarios that an upfront fee of ?7,000 a year, charged on a means-tested basis, would have no adverse effect on student demand.

In fact, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r three scenarios in which 바카라사이트 fee is raised to ?7,000 forecast a significant decline in student numbers, and Mr Wilsdon said that this elasticity of demand would be influenced by parental income and would affect each institution differently.

This, he said, could lead to 바카라사이트 creation of a real market as universities choose to differentiate 바카라사이트mselves by price ¨C something that did not happen with 바카라사이트 introduction of variable fees because almost every institution opted to charge 바카라사이트 maximum sum available.

The report also looks at 바카라사이트 impact of different fee models on university income, which Rick Trainor, president of UUK and principal of King¡¯s College London, has said must increase if 바카라사이트 sector is to maintain its reputation as ¡°world class¡±.

And it considers 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 total government subsidy to 바카라사이트 sector; on student debt (which ranged from an average of ?21,829 to ?32,557); and on universities¡¯ bursary expenditure.

Professor Trainor emphasis

ed that any changes that are made to 바카라사이트 fees regime would have to be accompanied by changes to protect 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s commitment to widening participation.

However, Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 NUS, said that it was ¡°extremely arrogant¡± of vice-chancellors to be ¡°fantasising¡± about charging students higher fees, particularly in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 dire economic climate.

He was particularly unhappy that 바카라사이트 report appears to ¡°assume that higher fees are inevitable¡±.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chairman of 바카라사이트 Million+ think-tank for new universities, said 바카라사이트 study¡¯s failure to take part-time students into account was very unhelpful.

¡°It completely ignores 바카라사이트m ¨C how can you put out a report on fees that ignores 42 per cent of students?¡± he said.

john.gill@tsleducation.com