Universities and education in the post-recession economy is an account of discussions held at a seminar in Brighton in April 2010, which brought together vice-chancellors, researchers and policymakers to take a close look at the implications of the global and national economic crisis for both the UK economy and higher education. It also examined the changing nature of student demand in a post-recession economy but as the discussions were conducted under "Chatham House rules", we don't know which of the "big-hitters" said what. The report asserts, amongst other things, that "universities are expected simultaneously to be traditional and innovative, autonomous and accountable, or charitable and commercial". All in all, a tall order for institutions who are neither public nor private and "will be expected to deliver an economy that helps Britain to survive the political and economic changes that are likely over the next decade." The report has not yet attracted any press comment as far as we can see but it is worth a read "in the raw" before any of the nugget quotes are extracted for headlines.
