Universities in the 21st century

WHAT ARE UNIVERSITIES FOR?
HOW SHOULD THEY BE RUN?
WHO SHOULD GO TO UNIVERSITY?
And, critically:
WHO SHOULD PAY AND HOW?

Jeffrey Hall, Institute of Education
Wednesday 24 November 2010

Speakers include:

• Professor Roger Brown, Liverpool Hope University
• Emeritus Professor Ronald Barnett, Institute of Education
• Professor Susan L Robertson, University of Bristol
• Dr Michael Kitson, Cambridge University
• Professor Nicholas Barr, LSE
• Michael Burke, economic consultant
• Professor Hugh Lauder, University of Bath

The 21st century is only 10 years old and the higher education sector in the UK is facing its biggest challenges since the 1980s. Government funding cuts threaten 20,000 jobs and universities are asked to do 'more for less'. The Browne Review looks set to raise the cost of higher education for future generations of young people. Research is under greater than ever pressure to demonstrate its economic value through knowledge transfer and to become self-sustaining, while universities are encouraged to focus on the quality of their teaching and private companies move into a newly diverse higher education eco-system.

In the context of these challenges UCU and NUS believe that it is important that the sector understands what it is and what it is for. We believe that it is time to initiate a wide-ranging policy debate that goes back to fundamental questions.

IT IS TIME TO START THE DEBATE NOW

Programme

9.30am Registration

10.00am Chair's welcome

10.10am After Browne and the CSR: where next for the funding of higher education?

Nicholas Barr: 'The Browne Review: What's right, what's wrong, what next?'
Michael Burke: 'Investing in Education to cut the public sector deficit'

11.30am Break

11.45am The role of the universities in the economy: myths and realities

Susan Robertson: 'Transforming UK Higher Education: Locating Projects and Politics'
Hugh Lauder: 'The Global Auction for Knowledge Workers and the future of universities'?
Michael Kitson: 'The Myth of the Ivory Tower: the Role of Universities in a Connected Economy'

1.30pm Lunch

2.30pm What's left? The university in the 21st century

Roger Brown: 'How should the public interest in a healthy higher education system be protected?'
Louise Morley: 'Is the University of the Future the University of the Past?'
Ronald Barnett: 'Becoming a University in the Twenty-First Century'

4.15pm Chair's summary

4.30pm Close