Blind alley in Parma

The danger universities may be heading into if they wait on Government action is nicely illustrated by the report on access to higher education, which being considered at a Council of Europe meeting in Parma this week.

The report -which was expected to get a rough ride - suggests linking funding of institutions to a variety of social objectives such as access for minorities and for socially disadvantaged groups. This is the danger of centrally planned systems: governments with social priorities can impose on universities requirements that have little to do with the purpose of the university.

If governments want to ensure access is genuinely open to all talent, as they should, much better that they make sure there is an adequate supply of places to meet demand and that students are enabled to take advantage of those opportunities. Any differential funding should attach to the students, not to institutions which take particular priority social groups.

The business of universities is the provision of teaching and research. They should be fully entitled to take the best students they can attract whoever they are. Once embark on quotas and special categories and there is no end to the resentments and difficulties caused.