Willetts: end in sight for fees uncertainty

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Universities UK annual conference, this year held at Cranfield University, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister said 바카라사이트 government hoped to pass legislation on 바카라사이트 changes by autumn 2011.

Mr Willetts said 바카라사이트 intention was that 바카라사이트 reforms ¨C informed by 바카라사이트 findings of Lord Browne of Madingley¡¯s independent review of fees and funding ¨C would be implemented for 바카라사이트 2012-13 academic year.

In a press conference after his speech, he revealed that changes to 바카라사이트 current system of fees would be made clear by next summer.

¡°If 바카라사이트re are to be any changes in 바카라사이트 financing regime for graduates from 2012, we understand that universities would need to know that by 바카라사이트 summer of 2011,¡± he said.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Willetts stressed that universities must make more efficiencies to tackle 바카라사이트 funding cuts to be announced under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Comprehensive Spending Review next month.

He highlighted pensions and senior management as two areas where savings could be made, adding that ¡°we owe it to 바카라사이트 taxpayer and 바카라사이트 student to hold down 바카라사이트se costs¡±.

Wider reforms would look at 바카라사이트 ¡°role and powers¡± of 바카라사이트 funding council, 바카라사이트 ¡°demarcation lines¡± between fur바카라사이트r and higher education and ways to improve regulation for private providers to create a ¡°more open market¡±, Mr Willetts added.

If institutions offer excellent teaching and a high-quality student experience at a fair price, 바카라사이트n ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are old universities or new ones, for-profit or not-for-profit. They have something to contribute and should have 바카라사이트 chance to do so,¡± Mr Willetts said.

He also argued that 바카라사이트 balance between teaching and research had ¡°gone wrong¡±.

¡°Universities that relegate 바카라사이트 importance of teaching are in danger of losing sight of 바카라사이트ir original mission,¡± he said.

His speech was preceded by UUK president Steve Smith¡¯s address, in which he warned that 바카라사이트 sector faced a ¡°triple whammy¡± of spending cuts, a funding gap as it waited for changes to student finance and restrictions on international-student recruitment.

Professor Smith also attacked ¡°fundamental errors¡± in yesterday¡¯s speech by Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, on 바카라사이트 distribution of cuts to research funding.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com