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.
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