February 21st – After the HE Bill: What next in the fight for education?

Public forum at King’s College London on February 21st. 6:30pm

Initiated by EAN.

Participants so far include: John Holmwood, co-author The Alternative White Paper; Andrew McGettigan, journalist and blogger @ Critical Education, Jim Wolfreys, author of Universities for Hire; Kate Tunstall, No Confidence in Willetts Campaign; John McDonnell MP; Howard Hotson, London Review of Books, NUS Speaker, UCU Speaker

What does the government’s withdrawal of its Higher Education Bill mean for our universities?

Although Universities minister David Willetts appears in retreat, most of the reforms outlined in his HE White Paper are being implemented anyway, from the new admissions market and fees regime to the escalating audit culture and creeping privatisation of the sector. University admissions figures have fallen dramatically in some institutions, which competition between universities charging lower fees and other providers, notably from Further Education, is intensifying.

How do we prevent the restriction of student choice imposed by the new university admissions market, and the growing inequalities it is creating between higher education institutions?

What are the prospects for private providers to find a way into higher education now that the HE Bill has been postponed?

The aim of this forum is for staff and students to have a strategic discussion about government policy for higher education and how to resist it.