The Press MONDAY, MAY 12, 1969. The University Debate

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 12

The Press MONDAY, MAY 12, 1969. The University Debate

Since Mr Muldoon’s speech to the students’ congress at Curious Cove in January a vigorous and, at times, acrimonious debate on university education has developed. The latest contribution to the debate comes from the chairman of the University Grants Committee (Mr Danks), in his address —reported elsewhere in this issue—at the graduation ceremony at the University of Otago. Finance, of course, cannot be separated from the nature and quality of university education—the grants committee’s major concern; and Mr Danks, a former professor of economics and now the top university administrator, speaks with more authority than any previous contributor to this debate.

Mr Muldoon has suggested limiting university entrants and expanding technical education. The vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury (Professor Philips) and other university spokesmen have protested against any significant reduction of the university intake. The grants committee predicts university enrolments of 35,000 students in 1972 and 47,000 in 1978—compared with 27,000 in 1968—and the education committee of the National Development Conference has accepted these predictions as its targets. Furthermore, it recommends these targets should be financed “under “ existing procedures and policies ” pending a comprehensive study of tertiary education. “ Sweeping “ changes, predicated on cost savings, should not be “ made except in the light of such a study ”, the committee adds.

Mr Danks considers that “ cutting down on “university expenditure by making access to “ university study significantly more difficult is bad “ educational practice and is unlikely in the long “ run to reduce total expenditure on education His committee’s forecasts of increased enrolments have now been accepted by the plenary session of the National Development Conference; and Mr Muldoon has said that no future Government “of “whatever colour” can afford to ignore the recommendations of the conference. So there is, apparently, no prospect of access to university study becoming “ significantly more difficult ”. It should be noted, though, that the substantial increases in enrolments expected in the next 10 years are no greater, proportionately, than over the last 10 years; there is little prospect, apparently, of access becoming significantly less difficult than at present Even if the funds and the staff are found to cope with these increased enrolments the universities may still have to choose between rejecting some students, closing down some faculties, or refusing others the chance to expand. “ One line of reform ”, says Mr Danks, “lies in the detailed appraisal by “universities themselves of their conduct of their “ affairs, and how this might be modified to reduce “ waste and increase effectiveness ”. And, after due account is taken of “special pleading and of the “ legitimate requirements for innovations, there is “still room for consolidation and the use of size “to improve quality ”. The universities’ case for higher grants in general has been accepted by the National Development Conference set up by the Government; but the grants committee has served notice that it will be no less demanding in its examination of individual universities’ claims. If this is the outcome of the debate on university education it will reward the efficient university departments and ensure good value for the students’, parents’, and taxpayers’ money.