Westminster Higher Education Forum 17 October 2012: The Future for Postgraduate Education
There is clearly widespread concern about the lack of progress on funding for postgraduate education. On 17th October, the Westminster Higher Education Forum convened a conference to discuss the way forward.
The speakers and discussants included:
- Baroness Sharp of Guildford;
- Professor Stephanie Marshall, Deputy Chief Executive (Research & Policy), Higher Education Academy;
- Luke James, the NUS’s Postgraduate Taught Officer;
- Professor Matthew Lambon Ralph, Associate Vice-President (Research) and Director of the Manchester Doctoral College, University of Manchester;
- Karen Wallbridge, Capability Development Schemes Manager, Transport for London;
- Janet Bohrer, Assistant Director for Standards, Quality and Enhancement, QAA;
- Professor Sir John O’Reilly, Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University;
- Lord Haskins, Pro-Chancellor, The Open University;
- Alison Mitchell, Deputy Director, Vitae;
- Dr Louise Leong, Head of Research and Development, ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry);
- Professor Penny Jane Burke, Director, Centre for Educational Research in Equalities, Policy and Pedagogy, University of
Roehampton; - Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive, Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Chair, Research
Councils UK Executive Group; - Professor Geraint Johnes, Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Economics, Lancaster University;
- Dr Tania Lima, Science without Borders Programme Director, UK Higher Education International Unit;
- Christopher Millward, Associate Director, HEFCE.
So, a very wide range of perspectives with some passionate advocacy of the need to support postgraduate study in the UK. But, our roving reporter reports – no answers yet – not even the beginning of some answers… and depressing. HEFCE are aware of this, and are tasked with publishing a funding statement for 2015-on in the Spring of 2013. Watch this space.
The NUS has put off announcement of its own proposals which, we hear, is for Government loans, plus a cap on numbers. Again, watch this space.
