They met students from Access to HE, Foundation Degree, BSc and HNC courses, as well as staff members teaching those courses. Students discussed their individual experiences of higher education and what Government could do to facilitate better access to these courses.

Lord Browne was also interested to hear how students’ employers were involved in their education. Lord Browne and Diane also visited the College’s new Paddington Green campus with the Principle Keith Cowell.

Leicester Introduction from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

 Prof Jonathan Haskel, Professor of Economics, Imperial College Business School,  Chris Humphries CBE, Chief Executive, UK Commission on Employment & Skills, David Docherty, Chief Executive, Council for Industry & Higher Education

Professor Jonathan Haskel, UKCES & CIHE from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive, Million +, with Gavan Conlon, Partner, London Economics, Prof Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor, Teesside University, Prof David Latchman, Master, Birkbeck

Million+, Teeside University & Birkbeck University from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General, Russell Group, Prof Alan Thorpe, Chair, RCUK Executive Group

Russell Group, Research Councils UK from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Prof Anna Vignoles, Professor of Economics of Education & Director, Centre for Economics of Education (CEE) – Institute of Education branch

Professor Anna Vignoles from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

David Sadler, HE Academy, Director, Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive, QAA, Professor Herb Marsh, Professor of Education, Oxford University

HE Academy, QAA & Professor Herb Marsh from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Prof Neil Shephard, Research Director, Oxford-Man Institute. Professor of Economics, Oxford University, Prof Nicholas Barr, Professor of Public Economics, London School of Economics

Professor Neil Shephard & Professor Nicholas Barr from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Paul Wakeling, York University, Ginevra House, Independent researcher with British Library & HEPI, Dr. Debbie McVitty, NUS Research and Policy Officer, Postgraduates

Paul Wakeling, Ginevra House & NUS from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Professor Sir Martin Harris CBE, Director, OFFA, Chris Scrase, Programme Manager, OFFA

OFFA from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Dirk Van Damme, Head of Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) OECD

OECD from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive, HEFCE  

HEFCE from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Prof Andrew Wathey, Director, University Alliance, Prof Paul Wellings, Chair, 1994 Group

University Alliance, 1994 Group from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Pat Bacon, President, AoC, Alice Hynes, Chief Executive, Guild HE

AoC, Guild HE from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Sally Hunt, General Secretary, UCU

UCU from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Aaron Porter, President Elect, NUS, Graeme Wise, Political Officer, NUS

NUS from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Prof Claire Callender, Professor of HE Policy, Birkbeck

Professor Claire Callender from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Alissa Goodman, Deputy Director, IFS, Prof Lorraine Dearden, Institute for Education, University of London & Programme Director, IFS

IFS from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Professor Steve Smith, President, UUK

UUK from bisgovuk on Vimeo.

Lord Browne Letter to Sunday Times (25KB)

The discussion focused on the students’ views of the evaluation criteria that the Review had set out in its call for Proposals document, and how best to manage the necessary trade-offs between the many desired outcomes of the HE funding system.

Issues discussed by the students included how to ensure that higher education was made more affordable for Government without affecting participation, and the complexity of the student finance system and how well students understand the terms of student loans. They also considered how they chose their university and course and what could be done to encourage wider participation in higher education.

Professor Julia King has also recently held a discussion forum with students. The photos below show her meeting students from Keele University to discuss some of the issues that the Review is dealing with.

• sets out the pressures and trends that may be relevant to the case for reform of the existing system;
• highlights what seem to be the key component features around which a reformed system may be constructed;
• provides some potential criteria against which proposals for reform may be evaluated;
• asks respondents to submit proposals for higher education system reform bearing in mind these factors, and the likely outcomes of reform regarding quality, participation and sustainability.

The Call for Proposals will be open until the 14th May, and all of those with an interest in higher education are encouraged to submit suggestions for recommendations that will ensure our universities and colleges are internationally competitive, financially sustainable, with fair access for all. Once the call for proposals closes the Review will hold further public hearings, details of which will be made available on this website.

Full press release: Browne review encourages ambitious proposals on the future of higher education

The students raised a number of issues including what motivated them to go to university, the quality of their tuition and their broader student experience, living costs and graduate employment prospects.

Some felt paying tuition fees made students more conscientious about getting what they wanted from higher education; others felt that, despite the additional income fees had brought universities, aspects of their experience – such as large class sizes – meant that students didn’t feel fully valued by institutions. Most though were very positive about having had the opportunity to go to university, and some discussed the importance of outreach to schools, to encourage others to consider higher education as an option for them.

The students presented Lord Browne with an open letter to the Review, which is published along with the other call for evidence submissions.

Photographs: Hafsah Saadiqah

Manchester hearings – 28th January 2010

Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills 2002-04

Wes Streeting, President, National Union of Students

Professor Steve Smith, President, Universities UK

Professor Lorraine Dearden, Programme Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

London hearings – 29th January 2010

Sir Martin Harris, Director, Office for Fair Access

Richard Lambert, Director General, CBI

Professor Nicholas Barr, Professor of Public Economics, London School of Economics

Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for England

Pat Bacon, President, Association of Colleges

Martin Bean, Vice Chancellor, Open University