Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Iain Duncan-Smith, is the first MP to take part in an experiment aimed at introducing politicians to the realities of university life.

Alistair Burt MP

He gives Reporter his insider's view on the Government's approach to HE.

ALISTAIR Burt asks many questions. Universities are businesses. What will that mean as the 21st century matures?

Also, what do we do when we have a worldwide brand but market conditions are held in check by local, territorial governments?

The MP has spent the last year gaining sneak previews of university life after taking up a University Fellowship - an iniative designed to strengthen links between universities and Parliament, brokered by the Industry and Parliamentary Trust and four universities.

He has visited Imperial three times in the last six months, talking to staff, shadowing a student, gaining confidences, exploring ideals. His question in the House last month about access, echoed the views of many about the latest White Paper.

"It raised the point whether appointing a regulator with the implications of lack of trust would undermine relationships between the Secretary of State and vice chancellors," he explained.

A reputation second to none
"An access regulator is an appalling move, bearing in mind how hard universities are working at opening up access. It's a most unfortunate political step which is bound to lead to division and worst of all, put fresh doubts into the minds of parents and students over university entrance."

During the current education furore, the man who spent five years as Kenneth Baker's Private Parliamentary secretary, five years as a Minister and a year as a front bench spokesman, now regularly debates issues raised with colleagues on both sides of the House.

"My aim is to enlighten Parliament where I can, to ensure it makes the best decisions in relation to the sector. I have made serious commitments to debating Higher Education while providing Shadow colleagues with information about how universities really work.

"Imperial is taken very seriously in the house and is known for setting the pace. People are aware of its reputation and the appointment of Sir Richard Sykes was a significant landmark to bring in a senior figure in the world of business as its head.

"Batting for a team already known to be strong means he wasn't brought in with a view to just bending the Prime Minister's ear . I'm sure the rector has far more influences than many other members of parliament. There's not many doors he can't open."

He also felt that the College was confident with its position in the world, relished its challenges and was keen to see changes, while being worried about the science base of the country and the implications for research graduates opportunities and jobs, although there was no visible signs of hand wringing about this.

"I picked up that universities feel that the government has a lot to say in what they do but that doesn't work on a long term policy basis. I received a very strong impression that there is a confident and clear-eyed vision of the future for Imperial - its reputation for science and how it develops in this country is second to none. Certainly, there are different issues in HE, but it's not an occasion to sit down to a tale of woe."

A small number of colleagues in the House know HE well and care about it, a handful take it seriously and most have an understanding of schools and classrooms but have forgotten what it's like to be a student, he continues. Consequently, the vast majority have only a hazy idea of how it works.

His own ideas appear far from hazy, partly helped by the insights he gained from visits to Imperial. About shadowing a student for a day, he recalls: "I was most impressed by both him and his friends. They were surprised to see a Conservative MP in the flesh that didn't have two heads. I found them diligent, interesting and opinionated. I also appreciated watching a lecturer that used mixed media and incorporated computer video clips in his presentation. In the old days, you could only describe molecular movement in the body. Today, you can observe it which fixes a student's mind on what's happening."

He found Imperial's students to be very hard working and serious minded with a real focus on the future. They seemed less involved in external political issues than he remembered his own generation being. They also didn't seem to worry about the wider world and take part in demonstrations. "Perhaps they are more mature."

The man who describes politics as 'my expression of loving my neighbour,' admits his own university days were slightly more carefree and relaxed in relation to his eventual destination. He read law at St John's College, Oxford.

"There was no financial concerns, no expectations of leaving with debt. It all seemed slightly more innocent somehow. Drugs were about, but not as an everyday experience for the majority. Drink and sex were the main temptations and most of us enjoyed them hugely."

Mr Burt expects to make a further speech when the White Paper is fully debated. He sums up: "My second quote would read better " I have made through the fellowship a serious commitment to raising HE issues over the coming years. There is a wonderful opportunity now, as we finally have the White Paper, and can begin to debate seriously the future of universities. If they have been low profile in Parliament up to now, all that is set to change.

"I don't believe the present structure of HE will hold in the next 15-20 years. We have to think seriously about what universities are for. What do we do when we have a worldwide brand but market conditions are held in check by local, territorial governments?

"Future governments need to come to terms with this and foster a relationship with universities which allows them to grow and develop. Sir Richard Sykes has said universities are a business - not an industrial or commercial one, but a university business with its own things to take account of. What will that mean as the 21st century matures?

"The Imperial market is already worldwide. In the future, the question to ask is how does Imperial see the UK government in a world wide role?"