Political shifts in England require a?new vision for a ¡°One Nation University¡± that ¡°removes the sharper edges of the market to ensure fairness for non-traditional students¡± while foregrounding place, and that promotes ¡°thought diversity in a?time of?division¡±.

That is the argument set out by Richard Brabner, director of the UPP Foundation, in a .

With a ¡°post-liberal¡± turn in the modern Conservative Party prioritising a?shift ¡°away from individualism and freedom towards community and control¡±, the report uses the One?Nation concept of ¡°supporting all parts of society¡± traditionally articulated by some Tories in its ¡°attempt to bridge the gap between advocates of a?post-liberal society, including within the ruling Conservative Party, and the higher education sector, which continues to do so much good¡±.

¡°The threat of shifting funding from universities, ongoing concerns around reimposing student number restrictions and/or minimum entry requirements and various interventions on cultural issues all suggest post-liberal narratives are powerful and are shaping the debate about the sector¡¯s future,¡± writes Mr Brabner, formerly head of policy at the University of Hertfordshire and a member of staff for two Conservative?MPs.

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While higher education expansion has brought economic, social and community regeneration benefits and ¡°we have liberated the choice and freedoms of some students, it has been at the expense of other people who are rooted in their local communities¡±, he says. ¡°Instead of being a bulwark against division, the sector is both a victim of, and has actively participated in, polarising culture wars.¡±

The report calls for graduates to face higher loan repayments to balance the needs ¡°of current students, future students, graduates and taxpayers¡±; while there should be ¡°a?flexible tertiary sector which fits around the lives and choices of all learners¡±, including a ¡°Birkbeck-style evening university in every region of the UK¡±. And the government ¡°should create a?director or office for higher education and place¡±, to ¡°fund new provision and intervene in the market when institutions are negatively impacted by market forces beyond their control¡±.

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Meanwhile, on the culture wars, the paper says that when involved in ¡°cultural clashes¡±, universities ¡°should develop an?ethical framework and create local citizen assemblies to work out how to respond to?them¡±.

¡°Led by the higher education sector and with support from the government, an organisation like the Heterodox Academy in the US, which supports viewpoint diversity and pluralism, should be established,¡± the paper adds. ¡°In addition to providing useful resources and tools, it could develop leadership training programmes and consultancy on recruitment and progression practices.¡±

Mr Brabner terms this a ¡°One Nation University¡± agenda, ¡°which removes the sharper edges of the market to ensure fairness for non-traditional students, graduates and taxpayers¡­which promotes civility, civic engagement and thought diversity in a time of division¡­which strengthens community, on and off campus, to the benefit of all¡±.

But should universities fundamentally change their outlooks in response to ideological shifts within the Conservative Party?

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Mr Brabner told Times Higher Education that it would be ¡°a?mistake to think universities can ignore these issues¡±. His paper, he said, aimed to propose ¡°a?way universities can thrive in this new era¡±, which would require the sector ¡°to recognise the gap in its offer and how it is perceived by the working classes and those who do not share its liberal orthodoxies¡±, and for policymakers ¡°to understand the huge potential universities have to spread opportunity, support the revitalisation of local communities and bring the nation together after a turbulent few years¡±.

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com