CEILUP event at Ruskin College Oxford asks: “Who should go into higher education?”

Graeme Atherton, Matt Western, Steve Coulter, Peter John and Justine Greening

CEILUP event at Ruskin College Oxford asks: “Who should go into higher education?”

Speakers at the event included Justine Greening, Dr Steve Coulter, Dr Hilary Leevers and Matt Western, MP and Shadow Minister for Higher Education

22 June 2023

Some of the most influential people from higher education joined UWL's Centre for Inequalities and Levelling Up (CEILUP) and the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) for a stimulating discussion at Ruskin College, Oxford, asking who should go into higher education.

Opening the event was Professor Peter John, CBE, UWL Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Ruskin College. Professor John noted the consequences of the shift from the state-funded system to the student loan system, adding that 35 percent of UK students are now from non-conventional backgrounds who are probably working, commuting and with family responsibilities.

Nowadays there are so many points of disadvantage which my generation simply did not experience. That is before we even throw the current cost-of-living crisis and inflation into the mix. How might a possible new government deal with this?”

he asked.

Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and ex-Secretary of State for Education, spoke next, commenting that the higher education sector and government need to be driven by what people really want to study. She said,

Any government needs to see higher education as part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, and something that needs to be dealt with.”

Steve Coulter, Head of Economy at the Green Alliance, detailed the work he did in his previous role as Head of Industrial Strategies, Skills and Sustainability at the Tony Blair Institute. Steve focused on the economic benefits higher education brings to the UK economy. He argued that the limited economic growth the UK has experienced over the past two decades can be directly attributed to the HE sector:

Policymakers need to re-energise higher education, access to the sector and how it is delivered. We are far from peak higher education for the UK population.”

Dr Hilary Leevers, CEO of Engineering UK, talked about her role encouraging more young people from all backgrounds to choose engineering and technology related careers. She argued that despite engineering being responsible for a third of production output in the UK, approximately a quarter of current job vacancies are in engineering related fields. She called for diversity and representation to be addressed on a course-by-course basis. Dr Leevers said,

At Engineering UK we are responding to society’s biggest challenges but the people making the decisions are not representative of society.”

The final speaker, Matt Western (MP for Warwick and Leamington Spa and Shadow Minister for Higher Education) stressed that the Labour Party’s mission is to break down barriers at every level. A passionate advocate for the all-age life-long learning model, he attended night school on four occasions during his career in the automotive sector before entering politics.

Universities are an extraordinary driver in the regions. We need to have bases across the country so people are not left behind.”

Mr Western concluded.

Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP)

The Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP) focuses on research to develop practical solutions to inequality in employment, education and opportunity.

Graeme Atherton speaking at the 'Levelling Up' event

Professor Graeme Atherton, Head of CEILUP at UWL and Director at NEON, said:

It’s great that Ruskin College remains a fertile ground of ideas since being acquired by University of West London Group. It was good to see how aligned academics from modern and traditional universities, NGOs and politicians are on creating positive change and opportunities so we can widen access to higher education. Our diverse panel of speakers gave the audience so much to contemplate.”

Ruskin College has a long history in thought leadership in access and participation in higher education and since 2021 has been part of the University of West London Group. The event was supported by the Universities Association of Lifelong Learning Group.

Learn more about UWL's Centre for Inequalities and Levelling Up (CEILUP)