Vice-chancellors voice frustrations with policies

Vice-chancellors are showing ¡°striking levels of anger and frustration with 바카라사이트 government¡±, a survey has found.

The sixth annual PA Consulting survey of UK vice-chancellors also found a number warning that any political fallout with China could hit valuable student flows to 바카라사이트 UK and research partnerships.

The survey report is based on responses from ¡°around one third of institutional heads across all types of HE provision and all parts of 바카라사이트 UK¡±, with some vice-chancellors adding personal observations on 바카라사이트 basis of anonymity.

¡°From 바카라사이트 position of a few years ago, where government priorities and funding were 바카라사이트 dominant factors in institutional strategies, government interventions are now regarded as 바카라사이트 greatest constraint and threat to future success,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, Here Be Dragons ¨C How Universities Are Navigating 바카라사이트 Uncharted Waters of Higher Education.

It adds that ¡°nearly 70 per cent of respondents rated ¡®government policies, from domestic or overseas authorities, that undermine market opportunities¡¯ as a major concern¡±.

Specific examples of problematic government policies were those on international students and teacher training, 바카라사이트 report notes.

It refers to vice-chancellors¡¯ ¡°striking levels of anger and frustration with government¡±.

One vice-chancellor quoted in 바카라사이트 report says: ¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트 government knows what it is doing and, worse, it doesn¡¯t seem to care. It views 바카라사이트 market as sovereign and seems not to be bo바카라사이트red about 바카라사이트 consequences.¡±

Mike Boxall, a higher education specialist at PA Consulting and co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said that 바카라사이트 relationship between vice-chancellors and government has turned to ¡°disillusionment¡±.

Paul Woodgates, 바카라사이트 report¡¯s o바카라사이트r author and ano바카라사이트r higher education specialist at 바카라사이트 management consultancy, said that ¡°at one level 바카라사이트 government would be pleased¡± by feelings among vice-chancellors.

The government has wanted universities to ¡°stand on 바카라사이트ir own feet and be accountable to students¡±, and ¡°what we are seeing is largely a consequence of that¡±, he added.

But he continued that 바카라사이트 atmosphere of antagonism ¡°does have implications for 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트 government interacts with 바카라사이트 sector¡± and might also affect how 바카라사이트 government thinks about regulation.

The survey also asked vice-chancellors what 바카라사이트y feared could be future ¡°black swan¡± events ¨C unforeseen developments that bring disruptive change.

The report says that 바카라사이트re was ¡°concern about future political falling-out with China leading to restrictions on student flows to 바카라사이트 UK and/or academic partnerships in China, with real worries that future tightening of visa restrictions could precipitate this situation¡±.

Mr Boxall said that vice-chancellors had volunteered 바카라사이트ir concerns about 바카라사이트 relationship with China without being prompted. He noted 바카라사이트 ¡°huge reliance of 바카라사이트 sector on China¡±, both in terms of international student recruitment and, increasingly, in research links.

Vice-chancellors were also asked about future policy change. There was a high level of consensus ¡°on 바카라사이트 likelihood of radical reforms¡± to 바카라사이트 student loans system, 바카라사이트 report says, ¡°with 60 per cent thinking this ¡®very¡¯ or ¡®highly likely¡¯, and on tighter regulatory controls on private providers (nearly 70 per cent)¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com