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Social change 'not academic role' Social change 'not academic role'
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The head of Cambridge University has criticised the government over pressure on elite institutions to take more students from disadvantaged homes.The head of Cambridge University has criticised the government over pressure on elite institutions to take more students from disadvantaged homes.
Vice-chancellor Alison Richard said universities were there to educate and lead research and not act as "engines for promoting social justice".Vice-chancellor Alison Richard said universities were there to educate and lead research and not act as "engines for promoting social justice".
Top universities are under pressure to admit more state school pupils.Top universities are under pressure to admit more state school pupils.
Professor Richard told the Times Cambridge would accept the best students from any background. Professor Richard also told the Universities UK conference that British institutions were underfunded.
The former Yale professor said universities faced losing their "competitive advantage" to overseas rivals who received more support from their governments.
"The quality of what we provide and our capacity to attract talent are both at risk," she told the conference, being hosted by Cambridge University.
Ministers have increasingly encouraged universities to accept more students from poor families and state schools.
The question of who we educate should not be driven by budgetary pressures on our institutions Professor Alison Richard
Academics have also been urged to work with private bodies to tailor courses to suit the needs of industry and commerce.
But Prof Richard said: "As institutions charged with education, research and training, our purpose is not to be construed as that of handmaidens of industry, implementors of the skills agenda, or indeed engines for promoting social justice," she said.
Figures released last week showed the proportion of state school pupils offered places at Cambridge University has risen by 4%.Figures released last week showed the proportion of state school pupils offered places at Cambridge University has risen by 4%.
This year, 59% of admissions were from state schools or colleges - the highest proportion of maintained sector admissions since 1981.This year, 59% of admissions were from state schools or colleges - the highest proportion of maintained sector admissions since 1981.
Our purpose is not to be construed as that of handmaidens of industry, implementers of the skills agenda, or indeed engines for promoting social justice Professor Alison Richard And Prof Richard said "neither family poverty, nor misplaced ideas about not fitting in" should discourage students from applying to any university.
Prof Richard said: "We try to reach out to the best students, whatever their background. But she added: "The question of who we educate should not be driven by budgetary pressures on our institutions."
"One outcome of that is that we can help to promote social mobility. But promoting social mobility is not our core mission. Further investment
"Our core mission is to provide an outstanding education within a research setting." She acknowledged that "welcome steps" had been taken by Labour to counter underinvestment over the last decade but said they were "not enough".
Ministers have increasingly encouraged universities to work with private bodies to tailor courses to suit the needs of industry and commerce. "The UK still lags, and tough economic times are no reason to abandon our historic strengths by backing away from further investment," she said.
All backgrounds
But Prof Richard added: "As institutions charged with education, research and training, our purpose is not to be construed as that of handmaidens of industry, implementers of the skills agenda, or indeed engines for promoting social justice."
Speaking at the opening of 30 new schools across the country, Schools Secretary Ed Balls called for wider participation in higher education.Speaking at the opening of 30 new schools across the country, Schools Secretary Ed Balls called for wider participation in higher education.
"Children of all backgrounds need to be familiar with university not fear it. "Children of all backgrounds need to be familiar with university, not fear it.
"They need to feel university is for them, so that we ensure they achieve their potential and use their talent," he said."They need to feel university is for them, so that we ensure they achieve their potential and use their talent," he said.