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Andrew Motion attacks government's 'mercantile' approach to universities Andrew Motion attacks government's 'mercantile' approach to universities
(about 3 hours later)
The former poet laureate Andrew Motion has condemned the government's "mercantile" approach towards universities, which he says forces them to "earn their keep", in an attack before the launch of a new campaign against the effects of excessive market forces on higher education.The former poet laureate Andrew Motion has condemned the government's "mercantile" approach towards universities, which he says forces them to "earn their keep", in an attack before the launch of a new campaign against the effects of excessive market forces on higher education.
Motion, now professor of creative writing at the University of London's Royal Holloway college, one of his many roles, said ministers were taking a short-term view of how universities should work, to the detriment of prosperity in the future and the wider cultural life of the nation.Motion, now professor of creative writing at the University of London's Royal Holloway college, one of his many roles, said ministers were taking a short-term view of how universities should work, to the detriment of prosperity in the future and the wider cultural life of the nation.
Motion is among an eminent group of 65 academics, writers and broadcasters who have founded the Council for the Defence of British Universities, which is officially launched on Tuesday. They include winners of the Nobel prize and Fields medal, current and past British Academy presidents and eight Order of Merit members, among them household names such as Sir David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins, Dame AS Byatt, Alan Bennett, Lord Bragg and Michael Frayn.Motion is among an eminent group of 65 academics, writers and broadcasters who have founded the Council for the Defence of British Universities, which is officially launched on Tuesday. They include winners of the Nobel prize and Fields medal, current and past British Academy presidents and eight Order of Merit members, among them household names such as Sir David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins, Dame AS Byatt, Alan Bennett, Lord Bragg and Michael Frayn.
The group has been assembled by Sir Keith Thomas, the historian and former British Academy president, who believes government policy means the purpose of universities is "distorted by the attempt to create a market in higher education".The group has been assembled by Sir Keith Thomas, the historian and former British Academy president, who believes government policy means the purpose of universities is "distorted by the attempt to create a market in higher education".
Motion said this was coupled with a short-sighted focus on immediate economic benefits. He told the Guardian: "Mercantile is one way of putting it, which would cover a lot of the problems. There's a hideous, little, short-term 'grad grindism' in the spirit of the government's policies towards universities which encourages us to think that universities have to earn their keep, validate their existence, by frantically publishing at a tremendous rate and concentrating on very practical matters which might leave the humanities looking a little bit irrelevant. And that's never a word I'd want to hear around any kind of study." Motion said this was coupled with a short-sighted focus on immediate economic benefits. He told the Guardian: "Mercantile is one way of putting it, which would cover a lot of the problems. There's a hideous, little, short-term 'Gradgrindism' in the spirit of the government's policies towards universities which encourages us to think that universities have to earn their keep, validate their existence, by frantically publishing at a tremendous rate and concentrating on very practical matters which might leave the humanities looking a little bit irrelevant. And that's never a word I'd want to hear around any kind of study."
He said: "People might raise an eyebrow and think this sounds like a kind of fluffy liberalism. But my reaction would be to say that actually there is a very, very important, practical opportunity in thinking in these larger terms. We're not going to find the cure for cancer by having it published next week. We're not going to write great books about Joseph Conrad by getting them out sooner."He said: "People might raise an eyebrow and think this sounds like a kind of fluffy liberalism. But my reaction would be to say that actually there is a very, very important, practical opportunity in thinking in these larger terms. We're not going to find the cure for cancer by having it published next week. We're not going to write great books about Joseph Conrad by getting them out sooner."
Motion said,: "Whichever subject, whichever discipline, there must be space for expansive thinking which values the importance of things which are good for our souls as highly as those which are good for our bank balances."Motion said,: "Whichever subject, whichever discipline, there must be space for expansive thinking which values the importance of things which are good for our souls as highly as those which are good for our bank balances."
Such a broad focus did not need to run contrary to the work of equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the modern world economy, Motion argued: "I don't want to suggest that there isn't very good work universities can do in assisting the opportunities of their graduates in the short-term. We want our graduates to have jobs. We want them to be able to compete with China.Such a broad focus did not need to run contrary to the work of equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the modern world economy, Motion argued: "I don't want to suggest that there isn't very good work universities can do in assisting the opportunities of their graduates in the short-term. We want our graduates to have jobs. We want them to be able to compete with China.
"But we also want those things to occur within the larger context of what is good for the human race in the widest possible terms. I don't think they're giving enough attention to those larger thoughts, those larger opportunities, those longer-term pieces of work, and those pieces of work which can't really be evaluated in purely mercantile, expedient terms, but can only be evaluated in terms of our enrichment as a species. That's a notoriously difficult thing to quantify but we have to allow it to be part of what universities do.""But we also want those things to occur within the larger context of what is good for the human race in the widest possible terms. I don't think they're giving enough attention to those larger thoughts, those larger opportunities, those longer-term pieces of work, and those pieces of work which can't really be evaluated in purely mercantile, expedient terms, but can only be evaluated in terms of our enrichment as a species. That's a notoriously difficult thing to quantify but we have to allow it to be part of what universities do."
The attitude ran parallel to cuts to libraries and other aspects of the nation's cultural life, which contributes considerably to the economy. He added: "I think that like most Tory governments this one thinks all the big stuff happens anyway, somewhere else. It doesn't need nurturing, it doesn't need looking after, its values don't need articulating. The arts economy is a thriving thing – you can defend it in terms you would think the Tory party would be able to appreciate. But apparently they can't see that."The attitude ran parallel to cuts to libraries and other aspects of the nation's cultural life, which contributes considerably to the economy. He added: "I think that like most Tory governments this one thinks all the big stuff happens anyway, somewhere else. It doesn't need nurturing, it doesn't need looking after, its values don't need articulating. The arts economy is a thriving thing – you can defend it in terms you would think the Tory party would be able to appreciate. But apparently they can't see that."
A BIS spokesperson said: "The coalition is determined to protect our world-class university sector. We have maintained the £4.6bn science and research budget, including the balance between blue skies and other research and the balance between scientific and other disciplines.A BIS spokesperson said: "The coalition is determined to protect our world-class university sector. We have maintained the £4.6bn science and research budget, including the balance between blue skies and other research and the balance between scientific and other disciplines.
"Despite the deficit, we have avoided big cuts to student numbers and we have introduced a more sustainable student funding regime, which means universities have sufficient income to offer a high-quality student experience. We share the commitment to academic autonomy – one recent survey found we have the most autonomous universities anywhere in Europe.""Despite the deficit, we have avoided big cuts to student numbers and we have introduced a more sustainable student funding regime, which means universities have sufficient income to offer a high-quality student experience. We share the commitment to academic autonomy – one recent survey found we have the most autonomous universities anywhere in Europe."
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