Pounds 282 for a conference day out

IT IS time someone raised a concern about the ever-increasing cost of educational conferences. Fees are racing ahead of inflation and one-day conferences now cost more than three-day events just a couple of years ago.

Take, for example, the latest Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals' conference on university league tables advertised in The THES. It charges an absurd inclusive rate of Pounds 282 for one day. Add to this the travel costs to London and such events become prohibitive.

My centre members attend many conferences but we will henceforth boycott day conferences that charge more than Pounds 150. I urge others to join me in such a boycott and put an end to this rampant inflation.

Lee Harvey Centre for Research into Quality University of Central England in Birmingham