Ian Dunn: Now isn’t the time to raise tuition fees. Here’s what we can do instead

It will not be news to anyone reading this that these are turbulent times for the higher education (HE) sector in the United Kingdom. As the real-terms value of UK tuition fees continues to diminish due to inflation and as international competition intensifies, a national debate on how the sector moves beyond survival to thrive in the current climate is essential.

Like many, Coventry University Group has been cross-supporting research and the teaching of UK students by very successfully recruiting from overseas. Despite long-term government strategy and policy encouraging the sector to expand international student recruitment, the previous government did their best to torpedo this approach in their final months in office. Although we are now seeing a positive shift in rhetoric from the new Labour government, there are few signs of a change in policy.

We must therefore accept that change is not imminent. Sir Keir Starmer has just taken the difficult decision to cut the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners. This sends a clear message to us and others that help is unlikely to come in the form of government spending.

For some UK students, and the families that support them, student debt is a growing deterrent when balanced with the high cost of living. The previous government's decision to increase student loan interest rates and extend the repayment window has further harmed access and participation. We passionately believe in the transformative power of education, particularly for those who struggle with a range of disadvantages, and any increase in fees would only serve as another setback for those who often have the most to gain from a university education.

Benefits for all

We must understand that students, by paying tuition fees, are investing both in their own future and developing the knowledge and skills that support societal development and hence benefit us all. The impact is also tangible in financial terms - on average, each UK graduate who does their first full-time degree generates an extra £75,000 for the exchequer. Sticking to the familiar £9,250 figure allows a greater number of students to pursue their chosen career path, benefitting not only their own personal and professional development but also the communities around them and the nation at large.

So, simply put, now is not the time to raise tuition fees.

Instead, I believe in a process that starts with an increased element of direct funding to institutions related to their service to the public good. Training nurses, teachers and engineers as well as developing more traditional academic skills, the delivery of continuing professional development (CPD) and ensuring a vibrant research culture, is vital to the development of creative thinkers who support the economy and deliver vital services. We too easily overlook the positive effect that universities have on the communities around them, and this should be recognised for those with the greatest social, cultural and economic impact. A recent report found that international students alone were worth £651million to the city of Coventry.

Diversifying

It is also imperative that institutions continue to evaluate their activities to ensure they provide real value for money. While we wait for a full and honest national debate around proper funding, at Coventry University Group we have looked at ourselves first. We have made the strategic decision to press ahead with diversification and globalisation, while also innovating to reduce the costs of delivery without impacting the quality experienced by our students and our commercial and research partners. A welcome period of sensible and stable government policy should enable us to pursue ever greater opportunities.

Through our global approach we have sought out opportunities to build links with partners and governments around the world, the freedoms that we have around our educational models can be beneficial in so many settings. We are proud to have established campuses of varying types in Poland, China, Egypt, Morocco and now Kazakhstan, with each offering a range of programmes designed to address regional skills gaps and teach students wherever they are – without the need to come to the UK. These partnerships are enabled by our Global Hubs, which connect us to globally important and developing regions and help to build meaningful collaboration in education, research and knowledge transfer.

Higher education is vital to the UK economy and its global reputation, and the sector is rightly revered and valued around the world. What we need now is an honest national debate about the of value higher education as a major employer, driver of growth and prosperity and a great British export – and how it should be funded. As an innovative and creative institution that has demonstrably done things differently, we look forward to spearheading this dialogue and shaping the future.