A new report ‘Opportunity, growth, and partnership: a
blueprint for change from the UK's
universities' published today, sets out a bold package
of reforms to widen opportunity and boost the sector's
contribution to growing the economy.
The blueprint has been authored by a series of experts from
within and outside higher education on behalf of Universities UK
(UUK). The detailed report includes recommendations on how
universities can do more to break down barriers to opportunity,
help boost the economy, train the doctors and nurses of the
future and support the drive to net zero. Achieving this, the
blueprint says, will require the sector to change, becoming more
efficient, collaborating more and transforming ways of working.
The blueprint also calls on the UK government to stabilise the
sector's finances and increase direct public funding in England
so the cost of going to university is rebalanced towards
government instead of students.
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, the President of UUK
and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of St Andrews
University, said:
“Universities are essential to economic growth. For every one
pound spent on them, the government makes 14 pounds in return.
But we face a choice. We can take the path which leads to better
and stronger universities, delivering on the new government's
missions, and doing more to open up opportunities to a broader
range of people, or we can let them slide into decline.
“We must choose the former path. This is not just government's
responsibility. It is a shared responsibility with universities
themselves, and one which we are taking head on with this
blueprint.”
Key ideas in the blueprint include:
- A major efficiency drive by universities to achieve
transformative change in the way they work
- Increasing the opportunities for students from parts of the
country and backgrounds where participation in higher levels of
education is currently low, working with schools and colleges
- Working more closely in local areas with businesses, chambers
of commerce and metro mayors to make the strongest possible
contribution to growth at local and regional levels
To deliver on these reforms and maximise the considerable
contribution they can make to the Government's five missions,
universities say they want to establish a new partnership with
Whitehall. In return, Government must act to put the sector on a
sustainable financial footing as a virtual freeze in tuition fees
in England over the last 12 years has decimated the finances of
universities. The blueprint sets out a two-stage approach; to
stabilise the university sector's finances, and then helping to
transform them to mobilise and maximise the contribution
universities can make to the success of the UK.
The blueprint argues the universities provide many public
benefits – not just benefits to individuals through higher
earnings. Government in England currently contributes just 16 per
cent of current funding towards a degree – one of the lowest
proportions amongst developed countries. Universities say direct
public funding should increase so the cost of going to university
is more evenly hared between graduates and taxpayers
Dame Sally continued:
“This country needs its universities firing on all cylinders if
we are going to turn a corner in economic growth. We want to work
with government in an ambitious new partnership to make sure that
happens.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Research by London Economics for UUK published recently
showed that the total impact of UK higher education is £265
billion (based on 2021/22 figures)
The chapters and authors of ‘Opportunity, growth, and
partnership: a blueprint for change from the UK's
universities' are:
Chapter 1 – Expanding opportunity
Commissioner – Professor Nick Pearce
Chapter 2 – More responsive and collaborative tertiary
education
Commissioners – Professor David Phoenix and Dame Ann Limb
Chapter 3 – Generating local growth
Commissioner – Rain Newton-Smith
Chapter 4 – A world-leading
research and innovation system
Commissioner – The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mandelson
Chapter 5 – Our universities' global reach, reputation,
and impact
Commissioner – The Rt. Hon. the Lord Willetts
Chapter 6 - Putting universities on
a firm financial footing
Commissioner – Professor Shitij Kapur and John Rushforth
Chapter 7 – Better regulation
Commissioner – Professor Julia Black
Chapter 8 – Improving how the impact of universities is
assessed
Commissioner – Andy Haldane
