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By posting their own "alternative White Paper" for higher education, academics say the government's plans are fundamentally flawed. Ask questions academics behind the proposals 1-15 hours (CET)

hundreds of academics have signed a document, released today, which warns against the disastrous consequences of the Government's White Paper on higher education the right to be.

the document on behalf of public higher education, supported by a wide range of leading academics, including Stefan Collini, Cambridge University, and Howard Hotson, Oxford, offers an alternative vision to the government for the industry as a new value proposition for higher education to society. According to recent research, it is also argued that the proposed changes are based on ideology rather than financial need, and make no lasting savings.

activists hope that leads to a decrease of debate and protest by the White Paper proposals, which should come into force next year. "The hope is that it offers a well-formulated on the future of higher education, in contrast with which the government has built around," said Simon Szreter, professor of history and public policy at the University Cambridge, who helped develop the document. "It's a meter at the dizzy speed of the government program and its dependence on outrageously fragile document, review Browne."

published today says that the independent review of financing higher education, chaired by former chief executive of BP, Lord Browne of Madingley, and the White Paper of ignore completely the value of public higher education, focusing instead on "the private interest of individuals in the form of higher income from investment in human capital and the knowledge economy in terms of product development and the contribution of economic growth. "

is suggested that this focus on students as consumers greatly appreciate the attacks of the Prime Minister believes that could reverse the "moral decay", blames the recent unrest.

and accused the missionary groups that represent different types of universities, including the Russell Group and 1994 Group of research universities in the foreground, the lack of leadership and not to defend the values ??of public higher education, while for-profit providers have successfully lobbied for their own interests.

Nearly 400 activists

academics, members of professional organizations such as the British Association philosophical, and individuals have signed the "alternative white paper" that was developed during the summer by a working group directed by John Holmwood, professor of sociology at the University of Nottingham and founder of the Campaign for State University.

he said. "People are registering very high academic level, they say:" Finally there is a voice that speaks in public higher education and economic issues of convenience aa '"

The document of nine proposals that higher education has public benefits and private and public benefits require financial support, public universities are required to build and maintain confidence in the public debate that public universities social mission and help improve social inequality, public higher education is part of a generational contract in which an older generation invests in the welfare of future generations, so that the public institutions providing similar programs the study should be funded at a similar level, that education can not be treated as a commodity that skills training is not the same as university education - something the title of a university must recognize that the College is a community of different disciplines and different teaching, research and external collaboration;. and, finally, that universities are not just global institutions, but also serve their local and regional communities

a separate schedule that makes the case that the change in tuition grants to loans secured by charges can reduce the deficit in the short term, but is an accounting trick. The long-term debt default could increase students or cancel the repayment of loans, and tax revenues of those who reject higher education as too costly is lost.

Group warned that high quality places for students to get lost, and scientific disciplines can be severely affected. A study center for higher education, M +, called the withdrawal of plans to introduce a market for university places, while the British Academy, the body of the United Kingdom, representing the National Science human and social, said the plans could undermine the international reputation of UK higher education.

Howard Hotson, professor of modern history of intellectual principles and founding member of the Campaign for Oxford University for higher education, said: "We offer a great value price UK university system is surprisingly good .. no intellectual justification for a radical reform, and if it radically reforms can ensure the worst. "