Universities UK responded today (Monday) following the publication of a report by the CBI Higher Education Task Force.
The report, entitled Stronger together: Businesses and universities in turbulent times, looks at the challenges facing the higher education sector.
Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK, said: “Universities UK welcomes the CBI Higher Education Taskforce report as a positive and constructive contribution to the debate about the future of higher education.
“We are pleased that the report recognises that we have ‘one of the most successful HE sectors in the world’. It is also welcome recognition that a competitive business sector needs excellent universities and that additional investment is vital if they are to sustain and strengthen their position in a competitive environment.
“We share the Taskforce’s analysis of the funding pressures facing universities, and their recognition of the fact that the UK spends less than the OECD average on higher education as a proportion of GDP. We recognise that some of the recommendations will need further discussion with the various interested parties and the UUK membership will be ready to engage in the debates.”
In his speech last week to the Universities UK Annual Conference, Professor Steve Smith said that “in order to remain an intellectual superpower”, and “in the light of the recession and what the future looks like, the UK should be spending at least the OECD average on higher education.”
The CBI Higher Education Task Force is made up of representatives from business and universities and contains three university Vice-Chancellors in its membership.
Professor Smith added: “In particular, we welcome the leadership shown by the business members of the Taskforce in committing to do more to support universities, and by encouraging other business to take practical steps such as increasing opportunities for work-experience and placements, and by offering financial support to students and graduates in the form of scholarships, bursaries and sign-on bonuses.”
Notes
- Stronger together Businesses and universities in turbulent times is a report from the CBI Higher Education Task Force. For more information, visit: http://highereducation.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/CBI_HE_taskforce_report.pdf
- The CBI Higher Education Task Force comprises 18 leading businesses and universities from a range of sectors and specialisms. It contains three university Vice-Chancellors: Professor Rick Trainor, Principal, King's College London; Professor Madeleine Atkins, Vice-Chancellor, Coventry University; and Professor Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor, Bath University.