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Vice-Chancellor Don Nutbeam shares his expectation of 2015 political manifestos

The Guardian Higher Education Network has asked vice-chancellors around the UK what they would like to see included in the party manifestos ahead of the 2015 general election.

Below is a full copy of the response from Vice-Chancellor, Don Nutbeam.

Don1When the political parties release their manifesto later this year, what three things would you like to see included?

This Government has presided over a period of unprecedented change in Higher Education. So the first thing I’d be looking for is stability and certainty in funding for home/EU undergraduate students, and an extension of this to postgraduate students. Higher Education benefits the individual and it benefits society. Both the individual and society should bear some part of the cost. The balance is a matter for debate, but that debate can’t go on forever, or lead to continuous uncertainties for students and for universities. There are several possible ways to fund higher education. Pick one, stick with it for the life of Parliament, and dedicate all efforts to make it work.

The treatment of current and potential international university students is already indefensible and acting against the national interest. Some current proposals are absurd, and have the potential to make the current dire situation even worse. The political manifestos need to make it clear that international students are welcome to UK Universities. They are a significant source of life and diversity in the student body that benefits all students, including and especially UK students. They bring massive social and economic benefits to the UK whilst they are here, and help us develop long term international partnerships once they return home. I want to see manifestos that welcome these students and sweep aside the xenophobic, unworkable, ineffective and highly offensive hurdles that we put in their way.

For me, the financial case is secondary. But that case is strong. Higher Education one of the UK’s top ten export industries, valued at over £10 billion per year. In what other major business sector would you systematically drive away customers from an export market at this early stage in the economic recovery?

Finally, I want all the political parties to firmly recommit themselves to the Haldane principle. The 2014 REF has demonstrated that UK universities produce astonishing levels of world-leading research, and that this research has extraordinary social and economic benefit. Government needs to set strategic direction, and decide overall resources, but the REF proves that it’s a fiercely independent, highly motivated university academy that will be addressing the challenges of the 21st century. Governments in other countries with more centrally-funded research structures can only dream of the level of research quality demonstrated UK universities in the REF. So let’s celebrate the independence of our Research Councils, and avoid channelling a significant proportion of research funding into strategic projects that circumvent peer review and transparent accountability. Let’s trust the system that produced those REF results, if we want to drive the prosperity of the UK.


You can see an excerpt of Don’s answer and the responses from other vice-chancellors on the Guardian website.

 
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