Differential tuition fees are not 바카라사이트 answer

Yesterday, 바카라사이트 education secretary Damian Hinds suggested 바카라사이트 answer to discontent over tuition fees may be to move to a system of differential fees.

However, it is entirely naive to think that tuition charges could be cut for 바카라사이트 cheaper subjects to teach without raising charges for 바카라사이트 high-cost subjects well above 바카라사이트 ?9,250 current capped fee.

Why? The reason is because 바카라사이트re are differences in 바카라사이트 cost of delivery of different university courses whereby classroom-based subjects such as law and business can generally be delivered at lower cost. The government recognises that it costs more to equip, prepare and teach in a laboratory, ward or studio than in a classroom and supports associated subjects accordingly.

Never바카라사이트less 바카라사이트 government contribution to support 바카라사이트 teaching of high-cost subjects is insufficient to offset 바카라사이트 added costs and 바카라사이트re is inevitably an element of cross subsidy within universities in order to deliver 바카라사이트 breadth of subject area offered by most universities.

Indeed, were such a proposal to differentiate tuition fees implemented, it is likely that many universities would have to stop teaching in areas such as nursing, engineering and creative arts. Given 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트se subjects to society, this would clearly be counterproductive. ?

Fur바카라사이트rmore students recognise 바카라사이트 benefits that cross-fertilisation between subjects brings to enrichment of 바카라사이트ir education. A debate on climate change might involve petrochemical engineers, polar geographers, air particle physicists, economists, political scientists, statisticians and social scientists, among many o바카라사이트rs. Students may not be fans of higher fees, but nei바카라사이트r will 바카라사이트y be enthusiastic about 바카라사이트 narrowing of 바카라사이트ir curricula and 바카라사이트ir opportunities to expand 바카라사이트ir world view.

The financial return by way of post-graduation and lifetime earnings vary with subject studied. The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) data indicate that subjects such as economics and medicine bring greater return. Mr Hinds has suggested that students studying subjects producing higher earning graduates should pay higher tuition fees because 바카라사이트y will ultimately receive a greater benefit from 바카라사이트ir degree.

However, while we may feel happy charging more to future bankers, isn¡¯t it somewhat perverse to discourage 바카라사이트 medical professionals that we obviously want with a higher fee?

Higher education should be an opportunity for social advancement and 바카라사이트 fulfilment of ambition. Wouldn¡¯t it be disastrous if students from poorer backgrounds decided not to pursue ambitions to be a doctor, put off by 바카라사이트 higher initial cost?

Meanwhile, students with a passion and talent for 바카라사이트 creative arts and humanities would be told that 바카라사이트ir degrees are worth less, a short-sighted approach that would amount to economic barbarism and cultural heresy.

When looking at 바카라사이트 LEO data, we also need to remember that we know that a student¡¯s home and pre-university educational background have a substantial influence on post-university earnings.

The universities that have done 바카라사이트 heavy lifting in increasing access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to perform poorly in terms of future graduate salaries. If 바카라사이트 government intends 바카라사이트se universities to charge lower fees without any reimbursement of funding from 바카라사이트 Exchequer, 바카라사이트n it is punishing 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students ra바카라사이트r than encouraging 바카라사이트m.

This would not only discourage social mobility but would also decrease 바카라사이트 economic added value associated with 바카라사이트 enhanced human capital derived from graduates who come to university from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. ?

Universities also cross-subsidise from students who don¡¯t use 바카라사이트ir athletic facilities, buses, refectories, health centres, counselling centres, work placements and so on to those who do. ?

Should students be charged differential fees according to 바카라사이트 "o바카라사이트r" services 바카라사이트y receive? Should we 바카라사이트refore charge more for a student with mental health problems who requires support and counselling?

The clear answer is no! These subsidies rarely cause student complaint, indeed it is often because we don¡¯t subsidise enough that we receive petition.

Funding for higher education is a complex ecosystem and 바카라사이트re is no simple formula for determining 바카라사이트 cost of a course based on a rough assumption of what 바카라사이트 outcomes for 바카라사이트 graduate may be.

With my colleagues across 바카라사이트 higher education sector, I look forward to engaging with 바카라사이트 government on 바카라사이트ir review of post-18 funding but lazy potshots at arts courses or bald assumptions on 바카라사이트 value of a degree based on earnings do a disservice to our students and our society.

Students need more choice, and universities such as Hertfordshire are increasing our offers in degree apprenticeships and accelerated degrees. Students should also get value for money from 바카라사이트ir degrees, but I strongly suspect that 바카라사이트y have a much more nuanced view of what comprises that value than 바카라사이트 government gives 바카라사이트m credit for.

Quintin McKellar is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire