VC responds to criticism from Lord Mandelson

27 January 2010

These remarks were made against the background of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Pre-budget Report announcement of cuts in HE funding of £600m over the next three years. 

Lord Mandelson’s remarks are rather ironic for LJMU, as we had come to the conclusion five years ago that one of the purposes of a modern university is that it should deliver both relevant education and higher-level skills to produce graduates fit for a global economy which will grow in complexity and competitiveness. Since then we have been quietly transforming LJMU to deliver a globally-unique form of Higher Education – exemplified by our unique high-level World of Work (WoW®) programme.

We are way ahead of Government thinking on these matters, and often have been. For example we were the first university to deliver a Masters programme in Computer Games Technology – a tough programme to stimulate and support what is now a multi-billion pound UK business sector – and a course branded by an ill-informed Minister at the time as “Mickey Mouse”. How times change and how wrong can you be!

Lord Mandelson’s own Department for Business Skills and Education used LJMU as a case study in a recent White Paper on how a university can ensure that graduates do have the necessary skills to enter employment or set up their own businesses. We are already delivering.

The WoW® programme itself is the result of deep and fundamental partnership with business. It was developed, and is being delivered, with an advisory board of leading national and international employers and business experts. It is this panel, (together with “an army” of enthusiastic local employers), and not the University which has determined the required skills, thus guaranteeing that the WoW® skills match the requirements of today’s workplaces. It is also employers who advise us if students can evidence the required skill levels to receive the WoW® qualification. This is at no extra cost to our students, but certainly extra work, to ensure that they can not only graduate with expertise in their degree subject area but also with high level employability skills and an acute awareness of the realities of the world of work.

Such is the success of the scheme that it is now being adopted world-wide. For example LJMU is advising the Malaysian Government on the steps it might take to enhance the employability of its students.

Of course, producing well-educated and developed graduates is not the only way that universities contribute to the economic success of the UK. Research outputs and a huge export earnings for the UK are but two others.

Universities recognise that they will have to take their share of public expenditure cuts over the next few years. However, the Government will need to ensure that they have the required resources to deliver the agreed outcomes, plus the managerial freedom to deliver them.

We will play our part in delivering quality outcomes in the most cost-effective manner and on a global stage. Britain's main asset is a highly-skilled and inventive workforce. We must be competitive to survive. We must invest in our people. Our country's future depends on it.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Brown

To read Lord Mandelson's comments, click here.