The future of university education? Public debate 30 April
What are universities for?
Are universities a public good?
How will the current government’s cuts to higher education funding affect universities in the UK?
What kind of education will £9,000 buy?
How can people respond?
On Saturday 30th April there will be a forum for discussion and debate on the impact of these changes, possible alternatives and public responses.
Speakers will include lecturers from the University of Brighton, and University of Sussex.
The Coalition government, building on the tuition fees that Labour introduced, is trying to get rid of any idea of the public good. The principle behind the NHS — what you need, when you need it, paid for by all of us together — is being radically undermined. The same is being done to the universities, where a decent education is now something you have to buy, and its only point that it helps you get a better-paid job. But education, like the NHS, is a public good. Education is good for us, for our children, for all of us because it helps us lead better lives and makes our society a better place.
This public meeting aims to bring together people from around Brighton to discuss what you think your universities are really for, and — if they are worth defending — how we might together set about doing that. Speakers will be brief. They include Bob Brecher, Professor of Moral Philosophy at Brighton, and Tarik Kochi, Lecturer in Law at Sussex.
How can people respond?
Everyone is welcome to join the discussion and debate
Saturday 30th April,
10am-12pm
Room G7, Pavilion Parade, University of Brighton (opposite the Royal Pavilion)
Further information available from Professor Bob Brecher: R.Brecher@brighton.ac.uk