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About us

Published on April 21, 2011
University Alliance (UA) is the voice of professional and technical universities. We represent large to mid-sized universities working at the heart of their communities. Alliance Universities partner with industry and the professions to deliver the workforce of today and tomorrow through practical, skills-based learning and applied research.   Our Work We believe professional and technical universities unlock potential and effect change We champi... Read more »

Independent: Vince Cable supports 'Graduate Contribution Scheme'

Published on September 23, 2010
Vince Cable is a much-loved politician because he tells it like it is, he seems to know what he is talking about and he doesn’t pander to people. Youngsters like him because he has a cool name that brings to mind an action movie star; oldies are keen because, well, because he’s one of them. But the university world is fast falling out of love with the Business Secretary, who has responsibility for higher education. That’s because of his use of th... Read more »

University Alliance welcomes the Government's Innovation and Research Strategy

Published on December 8, 2011
Responding to the launch of Government’s Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth Libby Hackett, Director of University Alliance, said: “The Government’s commitment to research funding following excellence wherever it exists will safeguard the UK research base and is indeed welcome. By continuing to fund small but excellent research facilities, Government is recognising the critical role they play within the innovation ecosystem. Maintaining a... Read more »

Rethink needed to avoid polarisation of sector, ministers told

Published on December 7, 2011
... Two proposals have been put forward to avert the “polarisation” of the sector as a result of the government’s student number plans in a letter from University Alliance Chair, Professor Janet Beer, to the Secretary of State, Vince Cable, and Universities Minister, David Willetts. The full article by Simon Baker can be read here. Read the full letter with our proposals here. ... Read more »

Times Higher – Among the elite, AAB attainment is not all it's cracked up to be

Published on July 21, 2011
‘Surprising’ Hefce data may leave some research intensives’ ‘cores’ exposed. Simon Baker reports – read full article here.   Libby Hackett, director of the University Alliance, said problems will start to arise from running the AAB and price-margin systems “side by side” if the government rolls it forward over a number of years. “You quickly reach an unsustainable position where you can’t operate in that market between £7,500 and £9,000,” she sai... Read more »

Guardian – The research funding debate: why size doesn't matter

Published on July 12, 2011
University Alliance’s report. Funding Research Excellence, finds no relationship between size and quality of research departments. Mark Leach discusses the findings – read full report here. Research was notable by its absence in the HE white paper, leaving a large hole in the government’s plans for the sector. Recognition of its importance to higher education and its inter-relationship with issues related to the teaching of undergraduates, which ... Read more »

Funding research excellence: research group size, critical mass & performance

Published on July 12, 2011
University Alliance institutions are proud of the world-leading research that they undertake. They have proved their value through the RAE. The main findings of this research are compelling: that the UK should continue a policy of funding excellence wherever it exists. For those that argue that first we must build a critical mass in research in order to be excellent, our report demonstrates conclusively that quality is a driver of scale and not v... Read more »

Sunday Times interview with Libby Aston – "Top uni tuition fees 'are not for prestige'"

Published on March 6, 2011
... Fees of less than £7,000 would have a “direct impact” on the quality of courses since the cost of running many degree programmes is already between £7,000 and £10,000, according to Libby Aston, director of University Alliance. Universities must be able to provide quality courses to students which cannot be done through “cut price” alternatives, she warned. Read the full article (paywall) ... Read more »

Telegraph interview with Libby Aston – "Universities are not setting high fees for reasons of 'prestige', university leader claims"

Published on March 7, 2011
... Fees of less than £7,000 would have a “direct impact” on the quality of courses since the cost of running many degree programmes is already between £7,000 and £10,000, according to Libby Aston, director of University Alliance. Universities must be able to provide quality courses to students which cannot be done through “cut price” alternatives, she warned. Read the full article.   ... Read more »