25 January 2010
million+ response to David Lammy’s comments on university funding
Commenting on the articles by David Lammy and David Willetts, that appear in the Policy Review magazine (published today), a spokesperson from the university think tank million+ said: “All universities undertake teaching and research. This has been the jewel in the crown of British higher education and has delivered enormous benefits to students, business and international recruitment. This has enabled many modern universities to be at the forefront of curriculum development, new and flexible modes of delivery and research in new markets such as the creative industries. Any policy which promotes differentiated missions and a highly stratified system of higher education would wreck the innovation which has stood the UK in good stead both at home and in the international market.
“David Lammy has ducked the question of additional student numbers so it is helpful that David Willetts has promised that an additional 10,000 students would be funded. However he has not answered the thousand dollar question as to what would happen to the higher education budget if there was a Conservative Government. Universities and students need to know whether they will face cuts if George Osborne is in charge of the Treasury.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
- David Lammy’s article in today’s Policy Review can be read here. David Willetts’ article can be read here.
- For more information, comment or interviews please contact Victoria Mills on 07900 277819