Diversity and interdependence: listen to the Vice-Chancellor on UK Higher Education

In her annual 1st October address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard called on the University to continue championing the enduring value of academic excellence, while focusing on the importance of institutional diversity and the need for public policy to encourage it.

Professor Richard's address to the University celebrated the achievements of staff and students, recognising the "distinctive and distinguished place among universities" that Cambridge holds. But she also reminded everyone that the health of the University of Cambridge, and the health of the UK Higher Education system as a whole are interdependent:

"My goal is for Cambridge to remain an internationally acclaimed university, recognized among the best in the world, a magnet for the world's finest minds, a transformational force for good. But just as Cambridge's global reputation is a significant asset for many universities in this country, so we depend for our success on the university system to which we belong."

The Vice-Chancellor reminded her audience of the extraordinary success-story that is the UK University system - ranked second only to the vastly bigger US system in it number of internationally top-ranked universities. However she tempered her praise by warning how quickly and permanently this hard-won position might be lost without vigilance. Professor Richard said the success of the UK system rises in part at least, from the diversity of strengths that UK institutions offer, but that that diversity is at risk through lack of public policy to sustain it.

Considering the routes that the UK Higher Education system might take in the future, the Vice-Chancellor spoke of her own preferred path - toward 'deliberate diversity'. As a source of ideas, she described the 'Californian system' of HE with its tripartite design which assigns particular and important roles to constituent elements and encourages collaboration. But she aknowledged the concerns of some about the consequences of 'imposed design' in the UK context:

"I believe there's a middle ground between the Californian system, and the current course in the UK which is set to erode existing strengths. That middle ground would allow and indeed encourage institutional diversity and experiment, without attempting to preserve or impose a particular design. I call this middle ground 'deliberate diversity'. It is in the overwhelming interest of this country to find it."

• Read the the full text of the speech on the University of Cambridge website