Safeguarding the Future of British Universities?

 

His Address also explored the different ideas of a university which had developed over centuries with the focus on teaching and research, and a future in which a diversity of aims and institutions should be encouraged to flourish. The Coalition’s aim had been to put the universities on a sound financial footing for the future, and its proposals for future universities’ finance were designed to strengthen the link between the student and the institution, something which a system based on a ‘graduate tax’ would not do.

 

In the course of the Address, Mr Willetts announced some  changes to relieve the burdens on universities, such as exempting from VAT the universities’ shared services or reviewing the amount of information and data institutions were obliged to collect and submit to government. He also released findings of a report  which tracked international graduates after leaving the UK and showed that they were on  higher average salaries in their home countries than compatriots educated at home.

 

Politeia will be publishing a pamphlet by David Willetts which will  discuss these and other ideas for the future of the universities in the UK. 

 

Those interested in being included in Politeia’s advance mailing list for invitations to future major events or for publications are recommended to become Politeia subscribers. Please visit www.politeia.co.uk/other/subscriptions for more information, or email secretary2@politeia.co.uk.

 

*David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, was giving Politeia’s New Year Address to an audience which included senior academics, business leaders, diplomats, politicians and officials.

 

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