David Willetts responds to ‘False Accounting?’
David Willetts, Minister for Universities & Science, has a column in the new Times Higher Education responding to an earlier article by Liam Burns, NUS President.
Burns had set out why my report for Intergenerational Foundation, False Accounting?, was significant. Willetts has missed the point of the report and has avoided addressing Burns’s main concern: the lack of statutory and contractual protection for borrowers.
I have sent a full letter to THE but you can learn more about the issue of protection by referring to the Student Loans post here. There is also an e-petition and I would encourage you to consider signing it.
What is the future for young academics? Sat 26 May
What is the future for young academics?
Conference & Campaign launch
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Venue: SOAS, London Time: 2pm
Graduate teachers face unique pressures from Universities:
Experience of teaching is invaluable for career progression, whilst institutions face a crisis in funding due to the coalition governments attack on education. This means that many institutions are increasingly relying on graduate teachers for the bulk of undergraduate class teaching, and feel able to offer terms and conditions that are unacceptable.
Articles on University Financing – now available
The newly available articles include:
- a short history of bond issues by English universities,
- how bond issuance is linked to higher tuition fees in California and more,
- a three-part series on loans.
The first article in the three-parter on loans has been superceded by False Accounting? which corrects some out-0f-date information I had been using about accounting for student loans.
“Shifting the Risk” includes an interview with Nick Barr about the viability of independent loans provided by private lenders. It outlines how a generalised loan regime achieves the “financialisation” of higher education.
“Into the Shadows” , the final installment of the loan trilogy, concentrates on attempts to sell or ‘monetise’ the loan portfolio. Again, Part 3 of False Accounting? covers the history of this policy approach in much more detail but there are some ideas floated in ‘Shadows’ about kinds of derivatives that might make sense in the HE context.
Cancelled: tomorrow’s event in Oxford
Unfortunately, James Vernon was unable to come over to Oxford. As a result, Tuesday’s event at the Sheldonian has been postponed.
False Accounting? – report now out
My report for Intergenerational Foundation is now out.
FInd it Here. And please also look at the Campaign around getting more protection for borrowers (with petition).
False Accounting? Out on Friday
My report for Intergenerational Foundation on student loans and the public sector finances will be out on Friday.
It’s titled “False Accounting? Why the government’s higher education reforms don’t add up”. It has a foreword by Liam Burns and ties into the NUS ‘Come Clean’ campaign.
A press package with an advanced, embargoed copy of the report is available.
Please contact me on andrew@acute.co.uk for details.
What is the future for young academics? Sat 26 May
What is the future for young academics?
Conference & Campaign launch
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Venue: SOAS, London Time: 2pm
Graduate teachers face unique pressures from Universities:Experience of teaching is invaluable for career progression, whilst institutions face a crisis in funding due to the coalition governments attack on education. This means that many institutions are increasingly relying on graduate teachers for the bulk of undergraduate class teaching, and feel able to offer terms and conditions that are unacceptable.This conference aims to bring together graduate teachers from across the country to share experience, launch a network that can work with the UCU and NUS, and plan a campaign that can win.
Speakers & Sessions
* Professor Les Back, Goldsmiths Sociology Department:The Importance of Social Research
* Haldayne Law SocietyIs your employer breaking the law? How to read a contract of employment
* Andrew McGettigan: Education ResearcherThe Governments Plan for Higher Education
* Regi Pilling, UCU Anti-Casualisation CampaignGetting the UCU onboard
* Dante Micheaux: NUS Post Graduate Research Officer:Getting the NUS onboard*Plenary: Where next for the campaign?
