Leader: Parents must keep out

Academics and administrators are still coming to terms with the increased willingness of many parents to intervene in their children's higher education. Previous generations of students were far less likely to have parents who went to university themselves and therefore have views about the level of "service" their children should expect. Most have not reached the extremes seen at US universities, but the trend is established and is likely to accelerate with the levying of top-up fees. In itself, this is illogical because, in contrast with the current upfront payment system, there will be no pressure on parents to foot the bills for tuition. Some may choose to do so, but students should be the ones to make more demands.

In the real world, parents will continue to be a growing force in higher education, whatever the niceties of the fee regime. But universities do students no favours by pandering to parents when their offspring are adults, with a right to privacy and plenty of procedures available to make a case for themselves when necessary. Becoming an independent thinker is a vital part of the higher education experience.