BBC News have conducted an anonymous survey of vice-chancellors in England and Wales and found two-thirds would like to see an increase in the cap on variable fees.
I can sympathise with the concerns of these vice-chancellors. For the UK to maintain its world leading position in Higher Education we must invest in the sector. Currently only 0.9% of GDP is invested into HE, below the 1.1% average for the OECD, and the government should do it's bit to cut the spending gap.
Guild Council took a position against any lifting of the cap earlier in the year. Despite the reintroduction of grants, fees are still a barrier to widening access. Fears of escalating levels of debt will only deter students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Piling more debt on to graduates during a recession would not be a smart move. Also if the cap is lifted the graduate premium (the amount extra a graduate earns by benefit of going to University) would be further whittled away and undercut the incentive for many students to attend.
Lifting the cap would also accelerate the marketisation of Higher Education. Students would be more likely to make their decision on which University to attend based on the price, and not the course that is right for them. This would undermine the culture of Higher Education and be detrimental for both students and staff.
But then what did we expect from the turkey farmers?
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