Tuition Fees & Future University Funding: Rolling Blog

This is a rolling blog during the 36 hours ahead of the Government vote on tuition fees on the evening of Thursday 9 December 2010. This will try to cover & discuss the national day of action by the NUS (Wednesday 8 December), any news from London, the Universities of Westminster (my work institution) or Roehampton (my PhD institution) and any news on the political negotiations. All opinions my own, keep an eye on my twitter feed @cjgrinbergs and remember all new entries will appear at the top so read from the bottom for the start of the story.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1905 My Blog: What the #tuitionfees protests mean for social media & citizen journalism http://tinyurl.com/38d98v3

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1859 My Blog: Why I don't want this vote to spell the start of the end of coalition politics: http://tinyurl.com/38d98v3
09/12/10 1830 So the vote has taken place and there was a majority of 21 (323 for, 302 against) which is a reduced governmental majority from 84.  Apparently 21 Lib Dems voted against.  The policy has got through and so the university system can now start to move on and adjust to its new funding regime. 

I think there are some issues that have been raised about the wider political and media fall outs from this. 

Firstly, this has been one of the first protests organised and covered using social media (including blogs and tweets like this).  Though the shots of police charges and demonstrators are reminiscent of the protests over Poll Tax and the numbers involved remind us of the Iraq protest, this protest is different.  It is on a scale not seen for a while, a violence not seen for 20 years and organised using media that we didn't know exist.  The issues of impartiality of the broadcasters (the BBC will come in for criticism again) will never go away but their role as a reporter of facts looks secure.  However, as at the election, the use of social media & 'citizen journalism' to provide alternative comment & to 'rally the troops' is becoming more important, as seen today in the interactivity and organisation of the opposition to the tuition fees vote. 

For the political, this is one of the first tests of coalition government.  Neither side have found this easy and this falls into a wider shift in the Lib Dem's politics to the right.  It's not an easy shift and one which may end up damaging the party at its core but one which has been on the cards for some time.  Whether the Lib Dems will hold together is going to dictate how long this coalition lasts.  From my perspective, their 'liberal' input to Tory politics is the sort of impact I want them to have and if today signals the start of the end of that alliance, then it is a shame.  Coalition politics could be far more interesting and representative if we allow it to develop. 

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1836  @thisisdavid Always a problem. As is fact most camera shots are from behind police so students look like they 'attack' & not police charging

Twitter @thisisdavid 09/12/10 1832 @cjgrinbergs agreed that both sides have had time. But during the peak of the reporting it wasn't balanced.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1830 @thisisdavid But leaders of NUS & UCU given airtime + full interview with Simon Hughes last night. Balance is seen over days not minutes.

Twitter @thisisdavid 09/12/10 1829 @cjgrinbergs on the ground they were grabbing whoever. There was no parity.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1828 RT @jason_manc Ed Miliband wants it both ways. Condeming the HE changes but refuses to guarantee he'd reverse it. Pathetic, opportunist student politician.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1827 Interesting vote: 21 majority says worrying things about strength of coalition. what will happen on issues like voting reform? #tuitionfees

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1824 @thisisdavid But plenty against fees on the ground interviewed by BBC news this pm including very good interview with NUS vice pres.

Twitter @thisisdavid 09/12/10 1823 BBC news please spend as much time finding student voices as you have for the other side. No one against fees in studio yet.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1612 Just as the protests get hotter outside, so are things within the Lib Dems. Impact of the #tuitionfees vote getting worse.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1611 Lib Dem Resignation from Government: Mike Crockart to go. #tuitionfees

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1553 RT @journotutor Live blog of student #demo2010 from @JUS_news http://bit.ly/gCqn8i

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1545 RT @joshuwahwah Why would they charge the crowd with horses? This is only going to inflame the situation.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1543  Police horses charging students reminds me of Poll Tax riots. Not good publicity for protestors or government. #tuitionfees

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1541  RT @BBCLauraK Best current guess: 16 lib ministers vote yes, a few other b'benchers too, 15 or so vote against, leaving about 20 abstensions: a guess!

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 09/12/10 1530  Reply Retweeted (Undo) Still on My Blog: Rolling information & analysis as we prepare for the #tuitionfees vote http://tinyurl.com/38d98v3

09/12/10 1230 So the day has arrived and the debate has got under way.  I have a day full of meetings and business to cover but in the odd moment am catching up with what is happening out there. 

Victoria station was once again filled with students - mainly of school age who are realising that they are the ones to be particularly hit by this.  I am sure they are off to a protest and will join those already in universities and some academics. 

From an internal point of view, all University of Westminster staff have received an email from the Vice Chancellor saying that the institution is personally campaigning as well as via Universities UK against the reforms and will continue to do so.  He concludes:

We would go further and criticise the current Government for the imposition of the disproportionate Comprehensive Spending Review outcome for higher education. We will continue to argue for a rebalancing of the public-private contributions to HE that would have benefit for all students and all universities.

Though the vote takes place this afternoon, I am sensing this may not be the end of the battle and there may be more battles to be won.  08/12/10 2230 Just back from lectures at Roehampton University and I have to admit that both there and at the University of Westminster, there is little evidence of protests.  The tube had a few extra students on it and every meeting or session one attends, both academic and non-academic staff have it in their minds.  Indeed, some academics have told me they intend to campaign tomorrow in Parliament Square - one of the benefits of a central London setting.  That said, when in discussion with my own line manager, he reminded me that we really do not have to consider this as the end of the discussion on university funding: the issue of research and other funding has still to be resolved.  Though this is the most important part of the news, we cannot forget that the funding for research is also decreasing by 36%. 

There seems to have been a good 'discussion' (possibly a tad too generous a term) at both PMQs and a variety of venus outside Parliament.  There seems to be some forgetful Labour politicians who said they would take on board the Browne Review.  They are not in power so can make the grass look greener on their side.  That said, I have just heard that the government is confident to win the vote (ITV news) as they are not calling the Environment Minister back from Switzerland to vote. 

So, for all the political heat, a quieter day than some expected.  I suspect that tomorrow will be a little busier. 


08/12/10 1431 Just led session on research impact & funding: appropriate when we're talking about future of unis. #tuitionfees

08/12/10 1147 From 5live callers, Clegg not getting message over. Failure of communication rather than policy for government? #tuitionfees

08/12/10 1142 Just had a note round at work that Cable has confirmed that Part time students will get 25% funding, new students will need to repay when earning above £21,000 and existing students will pay from £15,000 but this will increase with inflation 2012-16.  On one level seems a better situation for those affected but not sure that if this will relieve the fact that more will have to be paid back. 

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1141 Update at work - Cable: Part time students to get 25%, new students threshold £21k, existing £15k to increase with inflation

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1136 More students & police than usual at Victoria Station on commute. Off to #tuitionfees protest or preparing to flood tube?

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1134 My Blog: Rolling information & analysis as we prepare for the #tuitionfees vote http://tinyurl.com/38d98v3

08/12/10 1113 The UCU report on Universities at Dangeris interesting and a good read but I personally think that it misses out on certain aspects. The report examines the number of students from the Browne's 'favoured' and 'at threat' subject areas, the amount of income from the teaching grant and the number of non-EU international students. However, comprehensive though this number is, I think the report does not consider the financial situation of each of the institutions. Take Roehampton which was founded by three church organisations and therefore its finances are different to the mainstream. It's foundation basis mean that its financial calculations are different despite emphasis on the liberal arts. Also, the report does not examine the impact on the number of fee paying students and part-time students (which may go up with increased support).


Finally, it is unclear what level of debt the universities already have and what steps have already been undertaken by institutions to protect themselves in the cuts which is not surprising given this is a quantitative and not qualitative report. Certain universities have larger debts and less time, therefore, to address the current situation. Let's not get this wrong, we are looking at smaller universities (due to the research cuts as well as due to the changes in student funding) and a change in the emphasis of certain subjects get but this report does not show the entire story.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1109 Clegg says #tuitionfees situation not a crisis.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1105 Roehampton has backing of 3 churches which will affect how it goes forward & thus is not like others in UCU's risk list.

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 08/12/10 1103 Read UCU's Report http://alturl.com/2v2wz: interesting but not convinced by some of the analysis #tuitionfees

Twitter @cjgrinbergs 07/12/10 0953 Did Norman Baker et al really expect NOT to compromise on gov payroll? He should stop blackmail & resign. #libdems #tuitionfees

08/12/10 0937 Rolling Blog Live: Reading the UCU report and what it means.