Oxford University delivers stinging verdict on higher education reforms

Oxford University delivers stinging verdict on higher education reforms


Legislative body reaches near-unanimous vote of no confidence in policies of universities minister, David Willetts

Oxford University has formally declared it has "no confidence" in the policies of the universities minister, David Willetts, in the first sign of a concerted academic backlash against the government's higher education reforms.

Lecturers passed a motion opposing the coalition's policies by 283 votes to five at a meeting of the congregation, Oxford's legislative body. The university is the first to take a public stand against the raising of tuition fees and slashing of the teaching grant, but the rebellion is spreading. Cambridge is expected to announce a date for a "no confidence" vote on Monday, while a petition against the government is gathering force at Warwick University.

It is the first time a vote of no confidence in a minister has been passed by an English university, and follows a no- confidence vote by the Royal College of Nursing in the health secretary Andrew Lansley's handling of NHS reforms. The message of "no confidence" will be transmitted to the government by Oxford University's council, its governing body.

Robert Gildea, the Oxford historian who proposed the motion, described the coalition's reforms as "reckless, incoherent and incompetent". He warned that proposals to introduce "off-quota" student places, funded privately rather than through state-backed loans, and AC Grayling's plan for a new private university heralded the arrival of a "two-track" admissions system.

In a two and a half hour debate, he told fellow academics: "It's a red carpet for the rich and even more competition for everyone else. We will be back to Brideshead."

The debate had added resonance on the day a committee of MPs published a report warning that student numbers might have to be cut to meet the soaring cost of student loans, after ministers underestimated how many universities would charge the maximum £9,000 fee. Figures compiled by the Guardian show that 105 universities have declared their fee for next year, with an average of £8,765.