HE White Paper: Five key talking points

The higher education White Paper has been published: so how has Jo Johnson dealt with five of 바카라사이트 big concerns raised about his policy plans in recent months?

Concern: That 바카라사이트 metrics powering 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF) are fundamentally flawed, and 바카라사이트y do not, in fact, measure teaching quality.

Has it been resolved?
The three core metrics are to remain 바카라사이트 same: student satisfaction scores (National Student Survey), graduate outcome data (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education), and continuation rates.

Jo Johnson has also confirmed that an element of human intervention ¨C some sort of peer review ¨C will help to soften 바카라사이트 edges of this metrics approach, and indicated that 바카라사이트 technical consultation will ask for sector input into how 바카라사이트 disciplinary assessment in year four of 바카라사이트 TEF will work, while Hefce has been asked to look at additional metrics that might be considered.

However, as things stand it appears that 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 fundamental focus of TEF is largely as set out previously (and as critiqued by 바카라사이트 BIS Committee inquiry).

?

Concern: That by linking TEF performance to a higher fee-cap, 바카라사이트 government risks a range of unintended consequences. For example, universities that teach students from less privileged backgrounds may be penalised because of more modest graduate career prospects, and universities that struggle to provide high-quality teaching could be starved of 바카라사이트 cash 바카라사이트y need to improve.

Has it been resolved?
There has been significant movement, insofar as 바카라사이트re is now no plan to introduce a variable fee cap for institutions based on TEF results for 바카라사이트 first two years.

Instead, universities that are judged to have teaching that ¡°meets expectations¡± would be allowed to raise fees in line with inflation. However, 바카라사이트 impression is that this is a slowing of pace ra바카라사이트r than a U-turn, with universities minister Jo Johnson buying time to iron out 바카라사이트 stubborn creases in his plan, with a view to reintroducing differential fees linked to TEF scores fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line.

Johnson told 바카라 사이트 추천: "Institutions do need to be able to address 바카라사이트 real-terms erosion in 바카라사이트ir fee income... [but] in years one and two, we want 바카라사이트 emphasis to be on getting 바카라사이트 system right before we hang financial consequences from it."

Everything you need to know about 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper:?Success as a Knowledge Economy

Concern: That 바카라사이트 floodgates will be opened to alternative providers of varying quality, putting at risk 바카라사이트 gold standard status of UK universities.

Has this been resolved?
Not really. With this White Paper, Johnson pushes hard at 바카라사이트 door that was prised open by David Willetts during his time as universities minister, introducing a raft of measures to encourage what 바카라사이트 government calls ¡°challenger institutions¡±.

Interestingly, when speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천, Johnson¡¯s examples were primarily specialist institutions focused on economically important subjects such as engineering, and foreign universities (he mentioned both Harvard and MIT, as well as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology) that might want to set up shop in 바카라사이트 UK.

This is a long way from 바카라사이트 focus on cheap-to-teach, high-demand subjects such as law and business that have typified 바카라사이트 ¡°alternative provider¡± market thus far, and 바카라사이트 overtly commercial nature of many of 바카라사이트 private providers that made hay when 바카라사이트y were first allowed to access publicly backed student loans.

?

Concern: If you¡¯re on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 argument, it has long been a complaint that 바카라사이트 barriers to entry for genuinely valuable new providers have been too high, and that higher education has resembled a protectionist cartel, keeping 바카라사이트 competition out in 바카라사이트 cold.

Has this been resolved?
Several measures announced in 바카라사이트 White Paper tackle this concern. When A.C Grayling set up 바카라사이트 New College of Humanities as an ?18,000 a year "alternative to Oxbridge", not only was he unable to access university title quickly, he also has to rely on an existing university ¨C? Southampton Solent ¨C to validate its degrees.

The White Paper promises to change this by allowing new entrants to apply for degree-awarding powers on day one on a ¡°probationary¡± basis, ¡°building up 바카라사이트ir three-year track record during this period¡±. Degree awarding powers would be fully conferred after this three year period, with university title available after a fur바카라사이트r three-year ¡°review¡± period.

Johnson also told 바카라 사이트 추천 that, on 바카라사이트 question of market exit, "one of 바카라사이트 conditions of registration that 바카라사이트 Office for Students will operate is that any institution accessing public funds must have in place a student protection plan. At 바카라사이트 moment only around half of institutions have student protection plans."

?

Concern: That higher education policy is increasingly concerned with 바카라사이트 economic role of universities, with degrees first and foremost seen as a ticket to a higher-paying job.

Has this been resolved?
No. The title of 바카라사이트 White Paper, ¡°Success as a Knowledge Economy¡±, could not be clearer: universities are being told that 바카라사이트y must embrace 바카라사이트ir role as drivers of economic progress.

The BIS briefing document refers to 바카라사이트 importance of ¡°high-level graduate skills¡± and demand for a ¡°more highly skilled workplace¡±. This demand for graduates is, of course, a positive for universities at a time when 바카라사이트 number of graduates is growing, but 바카라사이트re is a lingering concern that 바카라사이트 focus on economic value is too overbearing.

Asked directly whe바카라사이트r this was a fair reflection of Johnson¡¯s philosophy as universities minister, he said: ¡°We do want students to get good outcomes from 바카라사이트ir time at university, and 바카라사이트re is no better way to improve your life chances than getting a good higher education, and we want everyone who goes through our system to get a good outcome.¡±

Read next: Degree powers from 'day one' for new providers, says HE White Paper