In his speech at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, Aaron offered an open invitation to Vice Chancellors to join with students and staff at the national demonstration on 10 November in central London. Talking about impending cuts to the HE sector he outlined the importance of meaningful collaboration but reminded Vice Chancellors that students are not prepared to pay more for less.
On cuts Aaron said: “If George Osborne wants to cut us, then we want him to know it will be like cutting down an oak tree with a hacksaw – a long, tough and exhausting process.”
Aaron went on to talk about the relationship between student leaders and university leaders stating that the relationship between the two “may be put under pressure in the months ahead, but in fact this is a moment when it is imperative that our dialogue is open, serious and sustained.”
After welcoming the university leaders to the November 10 demonstration, Aaron asked them to do whatever they can to enable staff and students to join the march, organised jointly by NUS and UCU.
The NUS President continued tell Vice Chancellors about how important spending on higher education could be in economic recovery and how “we should not be afraid to also make clear that the impact on students will be politically important…. Politics in a time of retrenchment is a game of deciding whom you cannot afford to upset – it is in our common interest to ensure that students are seen in that context.”
Click here to view the speech in full.