Degree Costs a Burden on Taxpayer, Says David Willetts
The cost of degree courses is a "burden on the taxpayer" and the system of funding is in need of "radical change", the universities minister has said.
David Willetts’ comments in the Guardian are being seen as his strongest hint yet that tuition fees in England could rise from £3,225 a year.
And in a speech later, he will say universities need to find cheaper and more flexible ways to teach.
The National Union of Students said many already graduated with huge debts.
Current fees are £3,225 a year and graduates only pay the money back when they earn a salary of £15,000 or more.
A review into the future of university funding is under way, led by Lord Browne, and is expected to report some time in the summer. The system doesn’t contain strong incentives for universities to focus on teaching and the student experience
David Willetts Universities Minister
Conservative Mr Willetts told the Guardian he did not want to pre-judge the outcome of the review, but said the current system was “unsustainable” and the cost of hundreds of thousands of degree courses was a “burden on the taxpayer that had to be tackled”.
He said students should see repaying tuition fees – which they must begin to do when they earn a salary of £15,000 or more – “more as an obligation to pay higher income tax”, than as a debt.
But he goes on to say that: “My view is that it is not a matter of simply changing the fees.
“The system doesn’t contain strong incentives for universities to focus on teaching and the student experience, as opposed to research.”
Flexible learning
Mr Willetts is due to give his first major speech since becoming universities minister in Oxford.
He will say that the current further education system was made “for the good times” – which are over.
He will say that students should be able to study for a degree at any university in England, but attend lectures at their local further education college.
This will help meet rising demand for degrees and improve access to courses for people who cannot afford to leave home, he will argue.
The model the government has in mind is that of London University.
It says it has 45,500 students studying by distance and flexible learning in 180 countries. Another 6,000 students in the UK do the same.
This is on top of the tens of thousands of students – the majority – who do study at the university’s institutions in the capital.
The university is made up of 19 colleges and institutes.
Thousands of other UK students already study through distance learning with the Open University and degree courses are also taught by some further education colleges.
It is the extension of universities into this area that the government is keen to encourage.
‘Diversify’
Record numbers of young people are applying to UK universities as all public sectors come under financial pressure.
Applications for this year are up 16.5% on last year.
Mr Willetts will talk of the need for higher education to “diversify”. The present system, he will say, is too inflexible and cannot respond to the current economic climate.
The Conservatives’ Liberal Democrat coalition partners fought the general election promising to scrap tuition fees and are not expected to back any move to raise them.
Are degree costs a burden on the taxpayer? Do universities need to find cheaper and more flexible ways to teach? Are you a student? Do you work for a university? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below.
Liked it
