UK-Israel Life Sciences Council

Debate between Baroness Warsi and Lord Howarth of Newport

Thursday 6th December 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Warsi]

It is not something that I am directly aware of, but I am grateful for the noble Lord’s information.

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

If academic effort ought to be collaborative across international frontiers, and that is surely right, why do Education Ministers so frequently speak of British universities being in competition with universities elsewhere in the world?

[Baroness Warsi]

I am sure that noble Lords will agree that British universities are some of the best in the world. We therefore have to praise our competitiveness and competitive edge. Whenever I and my ministerial colleagues are in places around the world we say that we are in direct competition with other academic institutions, because we are trying to encourage citizens of those countries to choose Britain as a destination for study.