Universities: Knowing Our Minds (Counterblasts Series)

“Universities: Knowing Our Minds” by Mary Warnock, published by Chatto & Windus in 1990, is a critical examination of government education policy concerning Britain’s universities. This concise work, spanning 43 pages, presents an informed critique of the current Department of Education and Science orthodoxy, emphasizing the tension between higher standards and economic efficiency. Warnock argues that the push for universities to operate like commercial entities threatens the integrity of higher education in the UK.

In this edition, readers will find a compelling argument against government cuts to university research funding and a call for the preservation of “intellectual free enterprise.” Warnock’s insights delve into the implications of educational law and legislation, as well as the relationship between education and the state. This book serves as a thought-provoking contribution to discussions surrounding higher education and its future in Britain.