What is a university education and where is it going? Critical reflections by David Willetts and two respondents
- David Willetts, Resolution Foundation
- James Wilsdon, University of Sheffield
- Simon Marginson, UCL Institute of Education
- Claire Callender, UCL Institute of Education and Birkbeck
Overview
Degree level education in the UK has grown from a small elite system to take in almost half of the school leaver age group. British universities are among the world?s most successful, as shown by their research performance and their attractiveness to international students, yet a never ending source of controversy at home.
Not enough participation, or too many graduates? Highways for upward social mobility, or drivers of inequality? Fair sharers of public and private costs, or engines of graduate debt?
In A University Education, released by Oxford University Press in November 2017, the most influential recent Minister for Higher Education, Lord David Willetts, reflects critically on where the universities have come from and where they are going, on his own transformative system reforms ? including the ?9k fee regime, the uncapping of student numbers and the entry of new providers ? and on the enduring power of higher education to expand people?s lives.
At this seminar Lord Willetts will discuss the main themes of the book, with responses from Professor James Wilsdon, CGHE Programme Leader, and Professor Simon Marginson, Director of CGHE, followed by questions and all-in audience participation in what promises to be a lively discussion. The seminar will be chaired by Professor Claire Callender, Deputy Director of CGHE.
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The Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts is the Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation and has written widely on economic and social policy. He served as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014). Lord Willetts is a visiting Professor at King’s College London, Governor of the Ditchley Foundation, Chair of the British Science Association and a member of the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He is an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College Oxford.
Professor James Wilsdon leads CGHE’s local higher education engagement programme. He is Professor of Research Policy and Director of Research, Impact and Innovation in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield. His research interests include research policy in the UK and Europe; scientometrics; the impact agenda; public engagement in research; and the role of evidence and expertise in policymaking.
Professor Simon Marginson is Director of CGHE, and leads CGHE’s global higher education engagement research programme. He is Professor of International Higher Education at the UCL Institute of Education, and Joint Editor-in-Chief of the journal Higher Education. He focuses on comparative international and global aspects of higher education, including systems and strategy, and higher education and equality.
Professor Claire Callender is Deputy Director of CGHE, and Professor of Higher Education Studies at UCL Institute of Education and at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research, writing and policy advice are focused on student finances in higher education and related issues. Claire was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours 2017.
