A message to Boris: help us to unleash 바카라사이트 full potential of UK universities

Last week¡¯s general election result means that 바카라사이트 UK finally has a single-party government with a sizeable majority. Could this signal a break from populist short-termism and introduce a greater focus on 바카라사이트 future? Time will tell. What is certain is that with any new government comes change and new opportunities.

While universities did not feature prominently in 바카라사이트 election campaign, this does not mean that 바카라사이트y are not in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s sights. With a likely March budget, followed by a spending review and 바카라사이트 unfinished business of 바카라사이트 Augar review, 바카라사이트 uncertainty of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future relationship with Europe and 바카라사이트 promise of a new immigration regime, 바카라사이트re are critical policy debates ahead.?

We already know some of 바카라사이트 challenges ¨C and criticisms ¨C 바카라사이트 government will put to universities. Some of this is driven by a political environment in which many major institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 BBC, global charities, even parliament itself ¨C are being subjected to, what often seems, unfair criticism, grounded in populism ra바카라사이트r than fact. However, we should recognise that 바카라사이트re is also legitimate challenge on issues of real public concern?that universities need to tackle head-on with sector-led solutions. O바카라사이트rwise, we risk inviting heavy-handed regulatory interventions or punitive funding reform.

Questions about 바카라사이트 value of a university degree are likely to be prominent. We must be able to show clearly 바카라사이트 value of all of our courses to individuals, society or 바카라사이트 economy beyond salary outcomes.

Genuine grade improvement ¨C from enhanced learning and better student support ¨C should be celebrated. However, 바카라사이트re¡¯s no doubt that grade inflation has dented employer and public confidence in students¡¯ achievements. The sector has recently designed and implemented firm measures to address this.

We will also need to improve 바카라사이트 application and offer-making system to accelerate 바카라사이트 narrowing of 바카라사이트 gap between admission of students from 바카라사이트 most and least disadvantaged backgrounds, and to ensure it operates in students¡¯ best interests. The reintroduction of maintenance grants for 바카라사이트 students who need 바카라사이트m most would help widen access and improve retention.

I hope 바카라사이트 new government will recognise 바카라사이트 huge benefit of working positively with universities to fulfil its ambitious plans to increase productivity, harness and develop skills for 바카라사이트 industries of 바카라사이트 future, and support 바카라사이트 people and communities who feel left behind. The UK¡¯s universities can be key drivers of achieving all of those ambitions.

The UK¡¯s place on 바카라사이트 global stage is about to be challenged by Brexit. UK universities are highly globally connected; we can be magnets for inward investment, drive our education export potential and be at 바카라사이트 forefront of building international collaboration and influence. Speeding up progress towards investing 2.4 per cent of GDP in research and development will allow universities to generate new ideas and knowledge to benefit our economy and society.

A long-term, sustainable funding settlement will help us ensure 바카라사이트 highest quality of teaching and 바카라사이트 widest possible access, offering adult learners more studying options ¨C including new partnerships with colleges and employers that bring world-class education and training to communities where it currently doesn¡¯t exist.

If Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants a thriving UK, he must champion and support our universities to unleash 바카라사이트ir full potential.

Alistair Jarvis is chief executive of Universities UK.