Promoting International Competitiveness

Higher education underpins the creation of wealth and the development of a more equitable, just and caring society. It should be valued by all and properly funded. High quality research, knowledge transfer, teaching and learning and networking with local communities can only be achieved with additional resources. The State alone cannot afford to sustain a world-class system of higher education. Increased funding has to come from all who benefit: society via general Government taxation, graduates from their enhanced earnings and external organisations, including businesses, through their paying the costs of the products and services they use.

Universities underpin the international competitiveness of the UK through their development and dissemination of knowledge and through the special characteristics of the learning experience that they offer. Our competitive future rests on innovation and the success of our knowledge intensive businesses whether they be in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, creative industries or financial and business services . All these businesses have high concentrations of graduates and undertake considerable research But this process is expensive and teaching needs to be as valued and resourced as research. International businesses want to recruit excellent graduates and invest in excellent research. The UK has to offer that excellence in all its diversity.

Hence CIHE:

• will continue working with others to press for increased state funding of higher education
• support flexible fees paid after graduation while wanting greater institutional flexibility in setting fees and a reduction in the current blanket subsidies on student loans
• want to encourage institutions to be entrepreneurial and secure greater funding from alumni and other sources
• support institutions recovering more of the full costs of their research and services whether from Research Councils, charities, the EU or businesses while recognising that universities and businesses operate in a competitive global environment
• will develop further the research that underpins the conclusions in our reports on International Competitiveness
• will launch good practice guides for universities on internationalising and encouraging more UK students to study abroad - business needs more graduates who have an international exposure and awareness
• value the wide role and fundamental values of higher education