As the father of four children who graduated in the last few years, I understood and sympathised with their concern … Continue reading “How should we fund higher education? With a free-market ‘graduate tax’”

David Willetts has added to the confusion surrounding university fees with a proposal to allow higher education institutions to admit … Continue reading “Time for a rethink on tuition fees policy”

Last week the universities minister David Willetts announced that from 2012 students attending private universities will be eligible for a … Continue reading “Dear John: all universities are private not public!”

The Times has revealed that 75% of universities are intending to charge at least £8000 when new undergraduate fees come … Continue reading “Decisive action needed on student fees”

When top-up fees were introduced in England and Wales in 2006-7, squeamishness amongst MPs was mitigated by an obligation placed … Continue reading “OFFA gets a new lease of life”

) that BPP will only be the second private university – the first being Buckingham University. If the minister for … Continue reading “Making institutional independence a reality”

One of the things which the Blair government got right was establishing the principle of student fees in higher education. … Continue reading “Graduate tax? No thanks”

Once again the issue of university funding has reared its head. As is often the case, the government has turned … Continue reading “Tuition fees: £7,000 needn’t be a “crunch point””

David Willetts is right to be talking about the need for radical change in universities. Many people in the sector … Continue reading “The real University Challenge”