Courses under threat(UK)

Clarke acts to save threatened courses

Matthew Taylor and Donald Macleod
Thursday December 2, 2004
The Guardian

The government has unveiled plans to stop leading universities closing departments of "strategic importance" following growing concern over a spate of cutbacks at some of England's most prestigious institutions.
The move, which the education secretary, Charles Clarke, accepted was a "significant departure" for the government, follows proposals to close a number of high-profile departments, most recently architecture at Cambridge and chemistry at Exeter.

Speaking at the education and skills select committee yesterday, Mr Clarke said cabinet ministers had drawn up a list of subject areas including science and technology, far eastern languages, vocational courses and eastern European studies to be protected.

"Any sensible government needs to take a long-term view of what our students are studying and whether we have enough graduates in the subjects needed to help our economy and society thrive," Mr Clarke said. "That is why I consulted with cabinet colleagues over the courses they felt needed extra protection. We have now agreed a list of key subjects of national strategic importance."

Mr Clarke said he had sent a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England asking it to examine how courses in these areas were funded, the size and spread of departments and the number of places available to students in different regions.

Mr Clarke said: "Specification of these particular subjects does not mean that they are more important than others. But they have been pinpointed because there are particular concerns that on current trends we may not be able to produce enough graduates in these fields in the future, and have them provided for in enough regions across the country."

In the last six years 79 science and engineering departments have closed. Most blame the research assessment exercise, which awards the majority of funds to departments that excel in research rather than teaching.

Yesterday Mr Clarke refused to comment on individual closures, saying the final decision was for universities not the government. "We cannot force them to keep courses open, or to offer courses of a particular length or type," he said. "However, as a strategic body the HEFCE is perfectly placed to give me advice on what encouragement and incentives we can introduce to meet our key objectives."

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills insisted the list had not been drawn up in response to the recent closures and had been under discussion for several months.

Last night David Rendel, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on higher education, said the closures had been brought about by the government's decision to introduce the free market into higher education.

"This is the result of mishandling of higher education over the years by both Tory and Labour governments," he said. "Turning our education system into a fees-driven market was bound to have adverse effects on academic diversity."

As Mr Clarke was giving evidence, the government was was being criticised in the science and technology select committee. Conservative MP Robert Key, whose Salisbury constituency includes the Porton Down research centre, said the Exeter chemistry department closure was "the climax of a long catalogue of failures for British science".