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28 Sep 2009 12:38:49
Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon, CBE has urged the Labour Party to stop “shilly-shallying” on the fees review for universities.
Professor Ebdon was speaking at this week’s Labour Party conference in his capacity as chairman of the think tank million+.
He said: “Students and universities can’t be left in the dark. Labour needs to say where it stands well before the election. Do you want the richest universities with very few students to be allowed to charge fees of £7,000 or £10,000 a year?
“Or, do you want a fairer system that includes part-time students and makes sure that universities like Bedfordshire have the resources they need to teach the students of tomorrow as well as today?”
Professor Ebdon praised the Labour Party on its investment and commitment to education, ensuring more students than ever before have had the opportunity to go to university.
But he urged the Party to come clean about its manifesto commitments in higher education funding before asking voters to go to the ballot box.
He said: “The US, which has a deficit similar to the UK’s, is increasing its spend on higher education and research. Sweden, renowned for ‘no fees’ but also high levels of investment in higher education and innovation, is pumping even more into its universities.
“So come on Labour – no shilly-shallying. What is the plan? What is the campaign and what is the higher education promise that will win another term?”
Latest news» 2009» September» "No shilly-shallying" urges Vice Chancellor
