‘I’m no monster, I’m trying to save this place’
Under fire Open University head filmed near to tears in emotional address to staff who fear institution cuts
THE head of the Open University broke down in front of staff, defending his policies to try to save the institution.
In an emotional plea to lecturers, during which he appeared close to tears, Peter Horrocks insisted that he does not have a “hard heart” and was “hurt” by such a suggestion.
Addressing Open University employees at a meeting earlier this year, he went on to say: “I’m trying to save the place. Who do you think I am? A monster? Just driven by business? I came here because I care. I really care. And this place may fail. I’m not a monster... I’m trying to save this place”.
In video footage seen by The Daily Telegraph, he explained: “It’s really important that the way that we use language absolutely acknowledges people’s strengths and their differences. And in using a particular verb – harden and soften – that to me, I was hurt by that. I’ve got quite a soft heart. I care about this place. I didn’t come here to be told I’ve got a hard heart.”
The Open University declined to comment on the footage. The university is suffering from a sharp fall in student numbers and leaked proposals revealed that dozens of courses could be closed down, alongside a major staff redundancy programme. Since tuition fees were trebled in 2012, the number of part-time students dropped sharply, as thousands of mature learners have been put off by the increased cost.
Last week, academics passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Horrocks, after he accused them of “not teaching”. He was already under fire from lecturers for plans to axe staff and cut courses, but came under fresh attack over his comments about the teaching staff at the university. The Open University’s council met on Sunday to discuss Mr Horrocks’ future, but has not yet declared the meeting’s outcome.
The Prime Minister said that parttime students will be looked at in the higher education review and Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, has said: “I recognise a decline in the number of older and part-time students applying for university and this is something I am concerned about.”
Robert Halfon, the Tory chairman of the education select committee, said that restoring the university’s grant and cutting loans for part-time learners must be a “core” part of the review.
He said the review would be rendered
‘I’ve got quite a soft heart. I care about this place. I didn’t come here to told I’ve got a hard heart’
“pointless” if it does not look at ways to rescue part-time student numbers from further decline.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said that the university is at “crisis point”.
“There has been a very clear market failure in the sense that the high tuition fees work remarkably well for young school leavers but mature and parttime learners are much more debt averse,” he said. “We need a good oldfashioned subsidy from the Government to keep the university open and to reduce the upfront cost of studying.”