Higher education

The social cost of tuition fees

The jury is still out on the full impact of higher tuition fees. But it is already clear that some groups of students are being put off higher education by its cost Read more

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University funding: give the REF the red card

Determining university research funding through the Research Excellence Framework is expensive and bureaucratic. It’s time to consider a less complex and costly mechanism Read more

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Mistaken on migration

There is an urgent need for more credible policies on migration that might slowly regain people’s confidence. By setting numerical targets, the government has begun a contest that is difficult for anyone to win Read more

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The trouble with boys

Universities minister David Willetts has got a point about the gap between white working class boys and other students when it comes to educational attainment Read more

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The business rate bonus

Rural councils, as well as their urban counterparts, can benefit from next year’s changes to business rates. They need to play a unifying role – bringing local firms, academics, politicians and communities together Read more

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Foreign students: not welcome here?

The decision to revoke London Metropolitan University’s visa licence is immoral and impractical. It is an over-reaction and will simply discourage overseas students from coming to the UK Read more

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Degrees of uncertainty

The new academic year will open up a more hard-edged and competitive higher education market. There will be both winners and losers Read more

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Higher ed: the price is wrong

Could student tuition fees be reduced without having to increase public spending? If inflation is taken into account, then the answer might be ‘yesRead more

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Market makeover for universities

The government’s proposed managed market in higher education will produce a number of unintended consequences. Instead, we should move as quickly as possible to an open market for students Read more

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Education spending: all shall not have prizes

With education spending facing its largest cuts since the 1950s, the pupil premium is one of the few areas to gain. But how shall we measure its success? Read more

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