THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

RECENT events have resulted in strong pressure on the universities to increase the number of students. The Barlow Committee, in recommending that the present output of university scientific workers should be doubled “at the earliest possible moment”, expressed the hope that there might be a similar increase in the number of arts students. The Clapham Committee urged a large increase in the provision made by the universities for teaching and research in the social sciences. It is, however, extremely doubtful whether the existing universities are in a position to double their output of students within the next ten years without surrendering their essential character and independence. As the universities expand they will have to recognize that the great bulk of their funds, both for purposes of income and of capital expenditure, can only come from the Government, and there is a growing nervousness lest the Government, which is now paying the piper to the tune of £9,000,000 a year, will soon want to call the tune.