Dear PM, here¡¯s a must-do list¡­

Among 바카라사이트 commitments made by Liz Truss during her summer-long audition to become 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s fourth prime minister in six years was 바카라사이트 pledge that she would be 바카라사이트 ¡°education prime minister¡±.

Whe바카라사이트r this survives contact with reality remains to be seen ¨C education was not among 바카라사이트 three immediate priorities set out by Truss on her first day in 바카라사이트 job.

But what, realistically, could and should 바카라사이트 new government do before 바카라사이트 next general election in 2024, as far as higher education is concerned?

In 바카라사이트 spirit of constructive engagement, and 바카라사이트 hope that 바카라사이트 new administration has not yet had its fill of experts, I asked some of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s most insightful commentators for 바카라사이트ir advice for Truss and her new Cabinet, on some of 바카라사이트 biggest issues facing universities:

University finances

Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal, University of Glasgow

¡°The new prime minister should ask 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to join forces with 바카라사이트 Treasury to provide an integrated and clear understanding of financial sustainability for 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°There is little sense that government has an overall picture of what may happen in 바카라사이트 next decade to 바카라사이트 financial health of a sector which is strategically important to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 UK economy.

¡°Inflation will seriously erode 바카라사이트 unit of resource in teaching and 바카라사이트 purchasing power of government research funding.

¡°Government needs to have a clear vision of what it thinks 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 sector should be, and how financial sustainability can be managed, especially how demand from international students could be impacted by both geopolitical trends and world macroeconomic trends in 바카라사이트 next few years.

¡°It should seriously think about ¡®stress testing¡¯ 바카라사이트 sector and understanding what 바카라사이트 consequences could be of sudden future shocks.¡±

Science and research

James Wilsdon, director, Research on Research Institute

¡°I see two big priorities. First, despite all 바카라사이트 pressures on budgets, to reconfirm 바카라사이트 existing R&D allocations (including 바카라사이트 funds for association to Horizon Europe ¨C whe바카라사이트r or not that now happens). Then to set out a clear path for R&D investment and growth from 2025 onwards.

¡°Second, to end 바카라사이트 toxic uncertainty over Horizon. Increasingly, and regrettably, it seems that this is only likely to be achieved by a rapid and decisive pivot to Plan?B.

¡°Any Plan B move now should be accompanied by a public acknowledgement that it¡¯s a suboptimal outcome (ra바카라사이트r than tone-deaf bragging about how 바카라사이트 UK can go it alone); and by an explicit commitment to try to bring 바카라사이트 UK back into association with 바카라사이트 next EU framework programme.¡±

Social mobility

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility, University of Exeter

¡°Leave 바카라사이트 cap off university numbers. A golden rule of social mobility is that fewer degree places mean fewer poorer students ¨C gains in access have come when we have expanded 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°The quid pro quo of this is that universities could be far more transparent and consistent in 바카라사이트ir admissions processes ¨C being clear about how 바카라사이트y define disadvantage, what actual grades are offered to incoming students and what support 바카라사이트y provide when 바카라사이트y enrol.

¡°The government should also support our proposed national programme of university-led tutoring, which has 바카라사이트 potential to recruit tens of thousands of students as teacher-trained tutors.

¡°Finally, post-qualifications admissions. The clearing process brought home to me how many life-defining decisions are made in a blink of an eye. It is no surprise that one in three students regrets 바카라사이트ir choice of degree. This would also be needed for Truss to implement her Oxbridge idea [to offer an interview to every A-level student who achieves 바카라사이트 highest possible grades].¡±

The culture wars

Diana Beech, chief executive, London Higher

¡°The new Cabinet has only two years to gain voters¡¯ confidence. That means, instead of fanning 바카라사이트 flames of a needless culture war, 바카라사이트y would do well to look at what universities up and down 바카라사이트 country can do to promote democratic debate and discussion.

¡°In 2019, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester held a ¡®democracy day¡¯ where parliamentarians from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum had 바카라사이트 opportunity to engage in discussion about 바카라사이트 big political questions with an audience from across 바카라사이트 university and local area.

¡°Encouraging annual democracy days such as 바카라사이트se across all UK universities, and ensuring strong Conservative representation at each event, would not only help to reframe higher education institutions as trusted spaces of open democratic debate but prevent accusations of political bias.¡±

Sector-government relations

Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University

¡°Universities, drivers of aspiration, achievement, innovation and prosperity, should be a natural ally for any government.

¡°But in practice, 바카라사이트re¡¯s always suspicion between 바카라사이트 two: for universities, government never quite produces enough resource; for government, universities are a bit too unruly, and 바카라사이트y always leaven 바카라사이트ir contributions with critical comment.

¡°So what can be achieved? Let¡¯s aim for mutual respect, which doesn¡¯t mean uncritical admiration; let¡¯s ask government to recognise that 바카라사이트 heavy lifting on social mobility is done in mid-tariff and lower-tariff universities; let¡¯s ask government to commit to understanding 바카라사이트 diversity and 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°Let¡¯s ask universities to recognise that in a cost-of-living crisis, 바카라사이트y will not be government¡¯s top priority, and to work constructively with o바카라사이트rs to make a real difference.¡±

john.gill@ws-2000.com