Teaching and research can sometimes be slightly uncomfortable bedfellows, especially at institutions who pride themselves on their research. Learning and teaching can be viewed rather as the poor relation – albeit one that lives in the same house, has its name on the deeds and pays most of the mortgage.
The idea then of a public / private, teaching / research split (via Tony Bates and our Canadian source) is possibly one which could find considerable support in certain academic circles before any lobbying has been done.
Some private teaching companies are already working their way onto campuses (admittedly working with subsets of the student body – having stumped up for the privilege) and can sometimes be seen to have better facilities than the rest of their still public counterparts. Shining examples of how well the private sector can perform.
Interesting / depressing times ahead …
