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UUK and others, most notably the Association of University Teachers, continue to use the phrase "teaching only" to describe institutions set to benefit from the government's enlightened policy on the university title. This is an insult.

Worcester has exercised taught degree-awarding powers at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for six years.

Our record compares favourably with a number of post-92 universities. Our most recent developmental engagement commended the subject area concerned for the way teaching was informed by research.

I have worked in four very different higher education institutions, including a long stint at a leading Russell Group university with which we now have a partnership. I speak from a position of experience - unlike those ready to dismiss colleges such as mine. I propose that when we do become universities we form a new grouping - "Universities for the 21st Century: Teaching Our Priority", or "Top" universities for short.

John Ryan
University College Worcester