Studying in the future

Last night I attended a Centre for Reform lecture, on the international future for UK universities. The renowned political scientist and chairman of an HE lobby group, Ivor Crewe, was giving the lecture.

The thrust of his argument was that British universities are doing well, being second only to those from the US in the vast majority of cases. But the decline in funding has only been partially off-set by Monday's spending review and national science strategy. Tuition fees and charges to foreign students may help rectify that - but not completely.

He was concerned with the government's apparent decision to direct most research funding to centres of excellence, and in effect, create two-tier HE sector, with those at the top focusing on research and others concentrating on teaching. Not only would this create problems domestically, but without looking over our shoulder, other universities in the US and elsewhere may well muscle in.

There is less incentive to enter the academic world for British researchers; many are taking the money and going to the States. And just as British unis are creating franchises in other parts of the world, globalisation means that foreign HE institutions may well do the same here.

Then there's also the challenge presented by the 1999 Bologna declaration, which aims to create a cross-European framework for HE by 2010, with a set standard which can be used to compare different countries' degree qualifications. But the UK doesn't seem to have effectively grappled with this yet, with no co-ordinated response at the European meetings held to discuss progress towards this goal.

He finally outlined what he thought should happen if the UK was to remain a key player in the international HE realm: a more co-ordinated approach to meeting competition from abroad (he cited Australia as an example where this had happened and where its universities are seen as a key export commodity) is needed, along with recognition of Britain's high quality but fragile HE system, engagement with the EU on the convergence process and an assurance that steady growth in funding is maintained.

Finally, I think I should mention that after the previous night's run in with the Trots, yesterday evening's event was a more pleasant affair. Granted, there were a number of woolly liberals (complete with corduroy trousers and check shirts) in the audience, but at least the general sense was of grappling with real-world problems, rather than dreaming of utopia.

One minus though: they poured the wine out during the lecture, so by the time we made our way to the refreshments bar, the white had all become too warm.