Top-up Fees Paper Delayed
Sir Richard Sykes: The most heated meeting yet
The governmental review critical to the College’s plans to charge top-up fees has been delayed after the resignation of Education Secretary Estelle Morris. In the same week, the Rector held a meeting with staff and students to discuss both top-up fees and the proposed UCL merger.
The Great Hall and at least one other lecture theatre were packed as Imperial College members attempted to ascertain how recent announcements would affect their degrees and research. While many of the questions were fielded without hesitation by the Rector, he rarely tolerated open hostility from those questioning him, replying “Good!” when former Union President Andy Heeps declared that he was offended by the Rector’s answers.
The review is vital if the paper recently passed at College Council is to have any effect, and will have to declare the Government’s intention to give universities freedom to charge fees above £1,050.
Estelle Morris is succeeded as Education Secretary by Charles Clarke, former Labour Party Chairman, whose decision pushed back the review’s publication. The implications of this delay for any change of direction on Higher Education policy is still a matter of speculation. However, where Ms Morris came from a background of teaching, Mr Clarke has a history including presidency of the NUS.
College staff were unable to comment on how their plans would be affected by the delay.
