Reaction to the Higher Education Bill from University of Teesside Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson

Following publication of the Higher Education Bill yesterday (8 January), Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Teesside, made the following comments:

1. “We welcome the concessions made today by the Government, particularly the bigger package of financial support for poorer students.

2. “These steps go part of the way to meeting some of our concerns that Parliament should not do anything that will put students off applying to go to university.

3. “We will be watching developments in Parliament with great interest and we will continue to press for policies that favour the sustained and equitable growth and development of all universities. It is on that basis that we remain opposed in principle to variable tuition fees.

4. “We still believe it would be far better if higher education in the UK was properly funded from general taxation, but we do understand that the Government believes the only realistic way of getting more money into higher education is through increasing the contribution from graduates. In the light of this, we believe it is essential that any system which is introduced does not undermine any part of the university sector. It is also very important that students and their families, particularly those from less well-off backgrounds, should not be placed under any greater financial hardship than exists at the present time”.

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