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Howard Moss (Letters, October 20) is wrong to assert that university managements show contempt for teaching. The vice-chancellors to whom I speak have maintaining and enhancing the student learning experience at the top of their agendas.

He is equally mistaken in his accusation that a focus on research damages teaching. No empirical study of the relation between teaching and research has shown that excellence in research is incompatible with excellence in teaching. On the contrary, students valueteaching that is informed by research and inquiry. For this reason, many universities have made strengthening the nexus between research and teaching a priority.

This may be why more than 80 per cent of our undergraduate students are satisfied with their courses.

Paul Ramsden
Chief executive
Higher Education Academy