Examination of Witness (Questions 500-504)
Thursday 22 May 2003
DR ANDY
JOHNSTON
Q500 Mr Chaytor: At the moment, do
you think there is enough financial incentive for individual universities
to respond to those three key points; and how important do you
think financial incentives are rather than the publication of
specific objectives?
Dr Johnston: A lot of the philosophy
that we have taken into universities as part of HEPS is that what
we are asking for does not necessarily require new extra resources.
What we are asking for is a change in the way they currently do
things rather than another project. That is one of my concerns—that
anything that comes out of the DfES should not look like another
project for higher education to deliver on. It should look like,
"What you are there for is to deliver education and research.
We are not going to change that but we want to change the way
that you are doing that". So in terms of any change of process
there is a need for a little bit of funding to get over the hump,
as it were, but there is no need for vast amounts of extra resource.
Q501 Mr Chaytor: Just leaving HE
for a moment, in terms of FE and vocational training, what contact
have you had with the LSCs? Do you think locally and nationally
they are serious about this agenda? Is there any progress to report
there?
Dr Johnston: I have been involved
with the projects that the LSC has been running over the last
two years managed by the LSDA. My concern on that process was
it was very project based—small things happening with individual
institutions and there was no strategy for how this was all going
to add up to something more coherent. I have not had a chance
to read the responses given but my understanding is that the LSDA
have accepted that as well and conversations with the LSC now
are all about how we can get something more coherent out of this.
Of course, it is made more difficult by the relationship between
national and local LSCs and we are beginning to realise that you
have to engage at both levels to get this debate going.
Q502 Mr Chaytor: In terms of the
professional bodies, what is their role in moving these issues?
Dr Johnston: If you are talking
about the established professional bodies who do have an effect
upon the curriculum through standards and the rest of it, the
effect they can have is quite profound,. As I mentioned, they
are the vital conduit between the sustainable development of the
United Kingdom and what is happening within United Kingdom higher
education.
Q503 Mr Chaytor: Is it your judgment
that professional bodies are taking this issue seriously, or are
they dragging their feet?
Dr Johnston: Some are, and more
are as every day goes by. I would argue that engineers were in
there quite early on recognising the importance of this debate
and Forum has done quite a lot of work in moving that debate along,
but I notice in The Times Higher last week that the architecture
profession is seizing this agenda and beginning a dialogue between
professionals and universities, and I think this will continue
to snowball as more and more professionals recognise that it is
a vital part of their professional development to take this on
board.
Q504 Chairman: I think we are reaching
the end of this further short session but, in respect of that
last point, what role do you see Forum for the Future has in respect
of the networking that needs to be done as more and more people
in professions and in establishments get engaged with this agenda?
Do you see a strategic role for Forum for the Future in respect
of facilitating that networking so the more people who are engaged,
the more the information is dispersed, the more accessible it
is and the more it is something that people want to come in and
do. Do you see a role for yourself in that?
Dr Johnston: I see that role as
very important. Forum for the Future is not about capturing ground
within the sector. If we feel they are an organisation within
the sector capable of doing that role then clearly they are the
best people to do it, so we would engage on that whilst there
was a vacuum, if you like, but the minute it was clear that the
sector had taken ownership of these issues we would pass it on
as quickly as possible.
Chairman: Thank you very much for making
the time available and can I say how much the Sub-committee appreciates
the contribution you are making to sustainable development.
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