Former Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts speaking at the Hay Festival said he considers universities “crucial institutions” for
modern democracy,
His book A University Education attempts to take on the “Edusceptics” that are cynical about the merits of undertaking higher education. He told the Hay audience of the individual and wider benefits of doing so - both economic and social - such as higher earnings, improved productivity, better life expectancy and higher rates of voting and participation.
Willetts favours universities as a vehicle for providing a well-rounded education, both in academic subjects and “training in worthwhile skills”. Due to the likelihood of higher earnings after getting a degree, he said, tuition fees were justified in paying for the end product.
The politician also tackled the burgeoning challenges facing higher education today – unsurprisingly, the talk veered towards Brexit as Willetts discussed the influence of globalisation on British universities, both in terms of their intake and export of students abroad.
He stressed the need for an outward looking higher education system through the maintenance of relations between British and EU universities post-Brexit, arguing that leaving the EU “presents a great challenge to our universities and researchers”.
He also expressed his opposition to the fact that GCSE and A Level students are expected to specialise at such an early stage, saying “we shouldn’t expect 16- year-olds to make that decision at all”, and arguing for a broader choice at university level.
Above all, Willetts urged future generations to take on a degree, telling the audience “encourage your kids to go…it will change them, and probably for the better”.