Edge Hill Vice Chancellor speaks out against tuition fees rise

Dr John Cater, Vice Chancellor of Edge Hill University has spoken out publicly against the proposed rise in student fees, suggesting that in the current economic climate, the opportunities for those from diverse backgrounds to gain a university education could be greatly restricted.

Speaking on BBC radio, Dr Cater said, "The introduction of fees in 2006 hasn't suppressed demand for higher education, and applications are up by another 8% this year, with demand from those from less affluent backgrounds being sustained and even increased. The impact of the introduction of fees was cushioned by the simultaneous introduction of student loans, making higher education free at the point of consumption.

"With the current financial crisis, the Government would not be able to provide a loan of, say, £5,000 per year rather than the £3,255 offered now. This could then lead to a demand for upfront, on-course payments from individuals or their families. This, in turn, would undoubtedly suppress demand and restrict the opportunity to go to university.

"The reason many universities want fees to rise is because the amount of funding per student declined by almost half between 1984 and 1997; there was then a small improvement following the introduction of the £1,000 student fee, which was followed by an increase to a £3,000 fee per year in 2006. But the cash given to a university for each student is still some 30% below previous funding levels. Some universities argue that this makes it hard for them to be competitive on the world stage.

"In balancing these two competing tensions, my view is that, in these straitened times, universities have to accept that this is the wrong time to demand more from the public purse or from the individual - but, as a BBC poll shows, only one-third of Vice Chancellors agree with me."