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22 Jun 2010 16:15:30
The University of Bedfordshire’s Vice Chancellor has questioned the Government’s commitment to social mobility following today’s Budget.
Professor Les Ebdon CBE, speaking as chair of leading university think tank million+, criticised the announcement which leaves the department responsible for universities and students facing further cuts of at least 25 per cent over the next four years.
Universities have already been cut by more than £1 billion and had support for capital funding projects withdrawn. They now face an increase in VAT which will cost many institutions at least £1 million per year.
Professor Ebdon said that the price of these cuts will be the social mobility which is a key feature of the Coalition Government’s agreement for higher education.
He said: “Coalition ministers need to explain precisely how they expect universities and students to absorb these cuts without risking the social mobility which they say they support and a hike in student fees which the Liberal Democrats said they opposed at the election.
“We face the alarming prospect that the only way this equation will add up is if the numbers of people going to university are cut. This would clearly undermine the coalition agreement’s commitment to social mobility.
“The Budget was always going to be tough but the real test was ensuring that it was fair. There is no disguising that cuts of this magnitude will deny opportunity to many at the bottom of the social ladder.”
Professor Ebdon said: “The Chancellor has also ignored the potential of universities to contribute to the economic growth and innovation which he says he supports. The economic impact of a university is two and half times its budget and universities contribute over £5 billion in foreign exchange earnings each year.
“The Coalition Government’s approach stands in sharp contrast to the approach adopted in Sweden where the government created 100,000 new places for young people to go to university at the same time as pursuing measures to cut the country’s deficit.”
Latest news» 2010» June» Budget cuts call into question the Government's commitment to social mobility
