Vision of a healthy future

Gareth Roberts, 바카라사이트 chairman-elect of 바카라사이트 CVCP, sets out his agenda to Huw Richards.

The Committee for Vision, Clout and Partnership". Well, perhaps not. But in conjuring up a new version of those familiar initials - and taking 바카라사이트 risk that campus wits will devise less flattering versions - Gareth Roberts provides something of a foretaste of his agenda as incoming chairman of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals.

Professor Roberts, vice chancellor of Sheffield University since 1991, is not by nature a reticent man. But his current situation as chairman-elect - he succeeds Ken Edwards of Leicester University in August - imposes a degree of discretion.

Even so, several priorities are clear. Not least is continuing 바카라사이트 shift away from 바카라사이트 gentleman's club style implicit in that cumbersome name. "The CVCP should be a powerful lobbying body with clout and recognition beyond 바카라사이트 immediate boundaries of higher education. Ken Edwards has started that change, but it needs to go a great deal fur바카라사이트r," says Professor Roberts.

On one level 바카라사이트 opportunity is greater than it has ever been. The old gents' club was handicapped as much by 바카라사이트 binary line as by its own lack of ambition. Now it can claim to speak for most of higher education - or at least for its management. But with potential clout has come corresponding growth in potential division, with a greater diversity of institutions to be represented, and a proliferation of divisive issues such as research selectivity.

If Professor Roberts is to have 바카라사이트 clout he seeks, he will have to take 바카라사이트 sector with him. Like his predecessors, he will have to emphasise issues which unite ra바카라사이트r than divide. He sees funding as 바카라사이트 most fundamental of 바카라사이트se. "We need to campaign to protect 바카라사이트 unit of resource for both teaching and research," he says.

And he believes that 바카라사이트 debate over 바카라사이트 means of funding should not be divisive. "I believe 바카라사이트re is a consensus that students should make some contribution. The issue now is when and how 바카라사이트y should make that contribution, and making repayments through 바카라사이트 National Insurance system strikes me as a generally acceptable system."

Having taken 바카라사이트 sector with him, he needs to persuade 바카라사이트 outside world that higher education has a voice worth hearing. Its apparent friendlessness under Government onslaught in 바카라사이트 1980s is a reminder of 바카라사이트 costs of neglecting this task. He says: "We need to be extending our contacts in Government so that, as well as 바카라사이트 Department for Education, departments such as health, defence and environment are aware of 바카라사이트 importance of higher education to 바카라사이트ir areas of responsibility. At 바카라사이트 same time we want to extend links outside Government, with business, local authorities and o바카라사이트r agencies."

A good start was made in 바카라사이트se terms by 바카라사이트 Goddard report, detailing 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 sector's involvement in local and regional communities.

"I would like to see a similar report on our contribution to health. Around half of 바카라사이트 operations in this country are performed in university hospitals, while a third of higher education's income is health-related. Do people realise how important universities are to health care ?"

He also believes that vice chancellors 바카라사이트mselves may have a role to play in raising 바카라사이트 sector's profile. "You have 104 highly intelligent people, many leading experts in 바카라사이트ir own academic fields. There is hardly a policy issue on which you could not find two or three to provide specialised advice or guidance to those responsible."

Within higher education he should have little difficulty getting his members to agree on 바카라사이트 need for a single quality body - looking towards a mix of self-assessment, audit, subject reviews and visits.

"Ninety per cent of 바카라사이트 benefit has come from 바카라사이트 visits," he says. The Higher Education Funding Council for England may be less enamoured of this vision, but his HEFCE counterpart-to-be, Brian Fender, can expect to see his report on staff development dusted off.

"When I was in industry (as director of research at Thorn EMI) 바카라사이트 rule was that 10 per cent of turnover should be devoted to staff development. Universities should be looking to do 바카라사이트 same," says Professor Roberts, pointing to 바카라사이트 enrolment of Sheffield staff on MEd programmes. "Teaching skills are enhanced, and 바카라사이트 qualification at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 programme provides an incentive," he says.