Amid demands for more cost-effective education and demographic changes, a conference was held in England on the role of higher education. Participants were drawn from institutions of higher education, polytechnics and universities, and included representatives of both the academic and administrative fields. Monty Finniston considered the benefits of teaching, learning, and research and the need for college teachers to be involved in all three. Edwin Kerr explored educational quality and excellence as those terms have become featured in recent government reports on higher education. Richard Harries discussed the role of higher education in reviving the economy of the nation. Denys Wilkinson traced developments in higher education and highlighted the need for an integrated system of higher and further education. Shirley Williams, in a consideration of the impact of higher education and its funding, concluded that the United Kingdom is an under-educated country beset by severe shortages of skill. Stewart Sutherland described some of the difficulties the Arts subjects were facing. The conference also considered the need for a better link between secondary and higher education. (JB)