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Vice Chancellors unite in message to the Telegraph

Thursday 9 December 2010

Royal Docks Business School students

Colleagues

Earlier this week I indicated that I would be signing a letter opposing the Government’s proposals on teaching funding cuts and fee rises. The letter has appeared today in the Telegraph and the full text is below.

Professor Patrick McGhee,
Vice-Chancellor

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SIR – We are deeply disappointed that the Government is asking Parliament to vote today for proposals which, in their present form, will lead to the withdrawal of public funding from the majority of undergraduate courses in universities in England.

From 2012, the public funding of arts, humanities, social science, architecture and computer science courses (to name just a few) will start to be withdrawn.

By 2014, there will be no public investment in these subjects, many of which have been central to Britain’s success in the creative industries.

The majority of students entering English universities from 2012 will have to borrow up to three times more than at present. As a result, graduates will leave university with fee and maintenance loans of between £35,000 and £40,000. In spite of claims that monthly repayments will be lower than at present, the graduates of the future will repay for much longer. In many cases, they will still not have repaid their loans in full after 30 years.

The Office of Budget Responsibility has calculated that by 2015, the public net debt requirement will increase by £13 billion in order to fund the higher student loans that will be required.

Gains made in reducing the deficit by withdrawing public funding for higher education will be cancelled out. In the long term, taxpayers will pay higher loan write-off costs.

Rather than raise fees, the Government should restore some teaching funding. This would be fairer for future graduates and more efficient for taxpayers. It would do more to support the social mobility and economic growth that Coalition ministers wish to promote than the current proposals, which effectively transfer responsibility for the future funding of higher education to students.

  • Professor Robin Baker - Vice-Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University
  • Baroness Blackstone - Vice-Chancellor, University of Greenwich
  • Professor John Cater - Vice-Chancellor, Edge Hill University
  • Professor Michael Driscoll - Vice-Chancellor, Middlesex University
  • Professor Les Ebdon - Vice-Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire
  • Professor Peter Fidler - Vice-Chancellor, University of Sunderland
  • Professor Caroline Gipps - Principal & Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton
  • Professor Van Gore - Vice-Chancellor, Southampton Solent University
  • Professor David Green - Vice Chancellor, University of Worcester
  • Professor Peter John - Vice-Chancellor, Thames Valley University
  • Professor Christine King - Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire University
  • Professor Patrick McGhee - Vice-Chancellor, University of East London
  • Dr Malcolm McVicar - Vice-Chancellor, University of Central Lancashire
  • Professor Susan Price - Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Metropolitan University
  • Professor Sir Peter Scott - Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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