18 July 2014 
Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
Further details are emerging of Greg Clark’s role following his appointment of Universities and Science minister last week. As well as taking the new role, Mr Clark also retains his previous briefs over cities, local growth, and political and constitutional reform. Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of the University of Reading and a former permanent secretary in the Department for Education, commented to the THE that it was “surprising that such an important brief will not have the dedicated focus offered by a single minister”. He believes it “confirms that there will be no major policy shifts this close to the election.”
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute added that he worried “about his [the minister’s] split responsibilities. Being universities and science minister is a full-time job. Some people say there’s not much to do, in the absence of HE legislation. But that underestimates the role”.
Meanwhile, in a separate article former minister David Willetts has said that he has “few regrets” from his four years as minister for the sector. Speaking to the THE he said of the fee reforms that, “in an age of austerity, to have a surge in the amount of cash going into teaching for universities – there is no other model, no other possible policy which could have delivered that.”
