UNIVERSITIES are “not only an economic endeavour but a moral and social one”, the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, has said.

Speaking in the Higher Education: Affordability and Quality debate in the House of Lords last week, he said: “It is about the formation of people, the strengthening of communities, and the pursuit of the common good. If we are serious about that vision then we must ensure that the structures surrounding our institutions — financial, organisational, and relational — enable them to fulfil that purpose.”

Amid comments on the financial picture, he sounded a warning: “There is a moral dimension within all of this. If universities are less able to invest in partnerships with schools and further education, or to sustain provision in key professional areas such as supporting social good, the consequences will be felt not only in higher education but across our schools, our health service, and our communities.”

Bishop Snow said that he had “a close interest in the Cathedrals Group of Universities — 14 universities whose distinctive history and mission speak directly to the themes before us: public service, social inclusion, and the flourishing of local communities”.

He urged the Government to take “a broad and integrated view” of higher education sustainability. “Yes, we must consider funding levels and student experience. Yes, we must safeguard equality. But we must also address the structural pressures that sit beneath these debates, and we must strengthen the relationships across the whole education system.”

Baroness Deech (Crossbench), who introduced the debate, said: “Our universities are a brilliant global asset, and, in order to carry out the innovation and research that they do, they must be free to be elite, and not be held back by manipulative regulation or excessive preferential diversity targets.”

She also referred to freedom of speech, the growth of AI, student loans, and the plight of arts graduates as areas of concern.

Responding for the Department for Education, Baroness Smith offered assurance. “This Government remains firmly committed to a higher education system that is both world-leading in quality and fair in its access, and one that delivers value for students, graduates, and taxpayers, including those who do not go to university, and that equips learners with the skills they need to succeed throughout their lives.”