5 October 2009

million+ at the Conservative Party Conference

On Monday the 5th October million+ and Reform hosted a lunch time round table discussion with Dr Liam Fox MP entitled How can universities drive Social Mobility? Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Secretary of Defense with an interest in social mobility and education set out his views on social mobility and the damaging effects of “celebrity culture.” He has spoken on these issues before: www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/03/Liam_Fox_A_crisis_of_confidence_threatens_our_societys_resilience.aspx

Pam Tatlow Chief Executive of million+ highlighted the central role of universities in driving social mobility and referred to the million+ report on Social Mobility which can be found here: www.millionplus.ac.uk/research/index

There were many useful contributions and questions from representatives from Local Government, MEPs, business and educationalists.

On the 7th October million+ and NUS held a fringe meeting entitled Higher Education: what will the Conservatives promise students and universities? Dr Malcolm McVicar Vice Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, David Evennett MP Shadow BIS Minster, Wes Streeting NUS President, Anna Fazackerly Policy Exchange and Susan Williams PPC Bolton West all spoke at the event, kindly chaired by Ann Mroz Editor of THE.

The event was very well attended with several parliamentary candidates in the room expressing their concerns about the response they would get on the doorstep when canvassing voters, if the Conservatives are not clearer about their plans for universities. Delegates raised issues about lifelong learning, comparisons with the American system, questions about the Student Loans fiasco and the role of colleges in delivering HE.

Listen to the podcast of the meeting: www.epolitix.com/conservative

Ann Mroz addresses the meeting

David Evenett MP addresses the meeting

David Evenett MP and Wes Streeting

Pam Tatlow, David Evenett MP, Susan Williams and Ann Mroz