Simon Jenkins seems to have forgotten the purpose of higher education (As thousands more teenagers scramble for university places, I have to ask – why?, 14 August). It is not, primarily, for vocational study, nor is it something to rush through in two years. It is to provide a lifetime love of learning and to encourage different ways of thinking. The solution is not to “cut back”, as Jenkins suggests, but, if anything, to ensure that as many students as possible experience the magic of university life.Emeritus Professor Gad HeumanUniversity of Warwick…