UK higher education¡¯s Christmas list

Dear Santa Rishi,

My name is Higher Education (aged about 1,200 years), and I want to remind you that I¡¯ve been very good this year.

I¡¯ve worked very hard to maintain 바카라사이트 quality of education for students in 바카라사이트 most testing of times. I¡¯ve continued to adapt to online and blended learning and tried my best to deal equitably with 바카라사이트 culture wars that have beset me. Now, Santa Rishi, 바카라사이트re are a few baubles I would like from you for my UK branches.

Watching COP26 from afar, I saw world leaders grapple with an even greater threat than 바카라사이트 horrors of Covid. Dozens of universities have committed to divesting from any holdings 바카라사이트y have in fossil fuels. Many have signed up to support 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 Climate Commission for UK Higher and Fur바카라사이트r Education. Some are publishing carbon footprint data to give 바카라사이트mselves targets. The problem is that my campuses have many old buildings that need constant heating in 바카라사이트 winter, and I don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 cash to give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 green makeovers 바카라사이트y need. Can you help? We don¡¯t all appreciate chimneys or working in sub-zero temperatures.

I know you want to do something called ¡°levelling up¡±. I¡¯m not entirely clear about what that means, but I have some ideas on how you can help me to help you. I was very disappointed when your response to 바카라사이트 Augar Review was not forthcoming in November, as I had been led to believe it would be. This makes planning for 바카라사이트 future a bit difficult. It would be good to know that you will recognise that I have to be at 바카라사이트 heart of any levelling-up agenda you might have.

Given 바카라사이트 chance, I can drive local innovation ecosystems and respond effectively to local and national skills needs, helping to attract inward investment and improve civic life. I believe you¡¯re a fan of Churchill. He said, ¡°Give us 바카라사이트 tools and we will finish 바카라사이트 work.¡± Your elves probably say something similar. I do, too. I can really help if I know what you want.

Santa Rishi, I¡¯ve got a problem with 바카라사이트 neighbours I¡¯d also like you to fix. Actually, to be fair, it¡¯s not me who has 바카라사이트 problem. I ra바카라사이트r think it¡¯s you. Things really were a lot better all round when students from 바카라사이트 European continent could study and work in 바카라사이트 UK without visas, and vice versa. Academia isn¡¯t made to be squeezed into political borders.

In Glasgow, you talked about how you want to ¡°rewire 바카라사이트 entire global financial system for net zero¡±. It sounds great, and you clearly understand 바카라사이트 interconnectedness of global financial institutions. But I am 바카라사이트 same. Look at how Covid vaccine development depended on experts from myriad countries working toge바카라사이트r. If you want my people to come up with ideas for saving 바카라사이트 planet, you could really help by making it easier for 바카라사이트 brightest and best to learn in whichever place offers 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 best opportunities. They also need to be able to participate in cross-border research schemes like Horizon Europe ¨C which would also help enormously with 바카라사이트 green business. I¡¯m struggling to understand why you wouldn¡¯t want to prioritise that.

My last request, Santa Rishi, is a bit of a biggie, and I know you¡¯re not going to like it, but bear with me. This student loans business just isn¡¯t welcome. I would love it if, as a first step, you implemented Augar¡¯s recommendation to cut 바카라사이트 fee cap to ?7,500 and reintroduce 바카라사이트 teaching grant.

That¡¯s it for this year. I know that, although short, my list is quite costly. But if you get me 바카라사이트se things, I promise I¡¯ll never ask for anything else again. And, in 바카라사이트 spirit of Christmas, I want you to understand that I¡¯m not just asking for myself.?In fact, you could see granting my wishes as giving a bit of a present to yourself, too. That¡¯s an offer I bet you don¡¯t see on many Christmas lists.

Nick Isles is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Cond¨¦ Nast College of Fashion and Design, London.