million+ criticises Secretary of State’s polytechnic plans
Professor Les Ebdon CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and Chair of university think-tank million+, today wrote to Universities Secretary John Denham following the publication of an article in the Sunday Times in which John Denham suggested that new universities should revert to their former polytechnic role and status and an uber elite of only 5-10 universities be supported in their place.
Expressing alarm at these proposals Prof Ebdon said, “There is not one shred of evidence that this would benefit students, employers or the research base of the UK. This trajectory would seriously damage the vast international partnerships of the UK’s universities which are worth over 11bn to the economy. I have written to the Secretary of State to convey how dismayed I am that this proposal has been put into the public domain without any evidence base and with such potentially serious consequences for students and universities. That this article has been put into the press just two days before a DIUS conference where the sector is meant to be having a debate on the shape and structure of UK Higher Education suggests that this is no longer an open and honest consultation.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
- Sunday Times article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5780304.ece
- For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900 277819.