Peter Mandelson Speech at Aston University

Lord Mandelson has given a speech on his vision for HE and FE delivered at Aston University on 16 June 2009. This provides some useful pointers for the future.

Key points:

• "First, a high degree of autonomy for universities and further education has been central to their success."
• "we can boost the role of universities in generating our economic growth without in any way compromising the place of fundamental science or curiosity-driven research in their mix."
• "Finally, over the next few months we will be publishing a framework for the future shape of our higher education system followed by an independent review on student fees.

Questions? Will autonomy be preserved? To what extent will there be more emphasis on shorter term commercialisation of research? And what's the betting that the review of student fees will take place after the election!