Universities in Yorkshire back tuition fees rise

Prof Philip Jones, the newly-appointed chairman of the Yorkshire Universities group, said part-time courses, training for people already in full-time work, and closer working with further education colleges could all expand as the cost of higher education rises.

He said that graduate contributions do not cover the cost of teaching and will need to increase as the higher education sector faced major cuts in direct funding from Government.

That could lead to more students doing degrees part-time over longer periods and more university courses being delivered in the workplace.

He also warned that Government cuts to university budgets of 25 per cent would undermine the quality and range of higher education in the region.

He said fears over the impact on universities of NHS restructuring and the potential for teacher training to be taken out of higher education meant universities were facing the greatest uncertainty he had ever known.

Prof Jones, who is vice chancellor of Sheffield Hallam, will serve as chairman of the Yorkshire Universities group for two years when the sector is braced for massive change with cuts of more than 1bn already lined up and a review under way into how tuition should be paid for.

There is also expected to be a further drop in funding in the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, due out in the autumn. Prof Jones said cuts of 25 per cent, predicted across the public sector, would "inevitably affect" the standard of teaching universities could provide.

But he hopes the fact that about 1bn of cuts to higher education funding had already been earmarked would save the sector from further pain when spending is reviewed.

Prof Jones said Yorkshire Universities were united in their concern over cuts which adversely affected the region – such as the decision to withdraw an 80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters for a new press to make components for nuclear power stations or the potential loss of 7m funding for the creation of a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on the border of Sheffield and Rotherham.

He said they were also united in recognising the need to reform the way universities were funded.

"There is a collective view that there needs to be reform of the graduate contribution to university education.

"The costs of tuition are not adequately covered by the current 3,000-a-year fee. There is consensus across all universities that graduates will need to pay more given the current shortfall in funding."

As the cost of going to university rises, Prof Jones predicts that higher education providers will need to adapt to ensure it does not prevent them from widening participation among students from poorer backgrounds

He added: "For Yorkshire's newer universities widening participation will continue to be central to their ambitions and their mission but I suspect all of us will have to review the way we teach and the way our courses are delivered and to look at the mix of full-time and part-time courses, whether more courses can be delivered through FE colleges or through the workplace."

Lord Browne is leading a review of higher education funding and student finance launched by the previous Government in November.

It is expected to make recommendations this year amid student fears that annual fees could rise to as much as 7,000.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has asked the review to examine "the feasibility of variable graduate contributions" – described as a graduate tax – where the amount a student pays back is linked to their income after finishing university.

Loss of agency 'puts knowledge-based investments at risk'

The head of a group representing the region's universities has warned the abolition of Yorkshire Forward could mean the loss of innovation and investment in knowledge-based industries.

Prof Philip Jones said Yorkshire Universities were concerned the work done by the regional development agency (RDA) would not be adequately replaced by the Government's local enterprise partnerships.

He also voiced fears the decision to scrap Yorkshire Forward could be more damaging to the region's economy if it co-incides with funding cuts which prevent universities from promoting research and development.

"We are concerned about the abolition of the RDA –I don't want to celebrate RDAs – but it had a role it promoting innovation and attracting inward investment into Yorkshire. I recently did a pitch to a potential investor into digital industries and this meeting was arranged through Yorkshire Forward."