Lords question Philip Augar on the implications of his report for science research funding
In his first appearance before Parliament since the publication of the Augar Review, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will question Dr Philip Augar and members of the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding on Tuesday 25th June.
The Committee will ask if the witnesses considered how their recommendations would affect universities' research budgets given the complex cross-subsidies involved in university finances.
It will further ask if the panel gave consideration to the other functions of universities aside from teaching, such as their role in communities and enhancing social mobility, when making their recommendations.
The session will begin at 3:25pm in Committee Room 4a of the House of Lords. The witnesses are:
- Dr Philip Augar, Chair, Review of Post-18 Education and Funding
- Professor Sir Ivor Crewe, Panel Member, Review of Post-18 Education and Funding
- Ms Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, Panel Member, Review of Post-18 Education and Funding
- Mr Matt Toombs, Secretariat, Review of Post-18 Education and Funding
Other questions likely to be asked include:
- Why was £7,500 chosen as the new figure for tuition fees when recent analysis from KPMG suggests even the cheapest courses cost universities upwards of £8,800?
- The Augar Review suggests "adjust[ing] the teaching grant attached to each subject to reflect more accurately the subject's reasonable costs and its social and economic value to students and taxpayers”. Did the panel consider the impact this could have on particular departments, their research outputs and their researcher base?
- Did the panel consider that for some universities operating at or near a deficit, income cuts could result in closures?
- Do you envision that universities will need to increase the number of international students to plug the gap from tuition fees?
