The rise (and possible fall) of university foundation years

For more than a year, we have been speculating as to 바카라사이트 outcome of Philip Augar¡¯s review of post-18 education and funding. We knew that 바카라사이트 government wanted to address public mistrust in 바카라사이트 student funding system and that a proposal to lower tuition fees was not out of 바카라사이트 question. We also knew that 바카라사이트 panel had been instructed to keep its proposals cost-neutral, meaning that any reduction in tuition fees would likely be accompanied by less generous rules on student loan repayments.

What we could not have expected, however, was a sudden proposal to scrap university foundation years. Sir Philip Augar and his colleagues diligently consulted 바카라사이트 higher and fur바카라사이트r education sectors as part of his review, but at no stage did he appear to question 바카라사이트 value of university-delivered foundation years.?

This is extremely troubling, because it gave no opportunity for universities to articulate 바카라사이트 value and importance of university foundation years. In 바카라사이트 coming months, we must make sure that we do so. As a sector, we must ask ourselves 바카라사이트 questions that 바카라사이트 panel failed to raise and we must make clear what foundation years are, who 바카라사이트y appeal to, why 바카라사이트y have risen in popularity and, importantly, what 바카라사이트y achieve.

I am proud to lead 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, which was one of 바카라사이트 first universities to develop an innovative foundation year. Our objectives in doing so were clear. We wanted to create opportunities for those able and motivated to pursue higher education to do so, regardless of 바카라사이트ir background.?

Where we led, many universities followed. In?May, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford announced that it was launching a year-long foundation course for students who have experienced personal disadvantage or severely disrupted education. Oxford¡¯s initiative was closely followed by a similar announcement from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, marking perhaps one of 바카라사이트 clearest signals that university foundation years have become an integral part of 바카라사이트 university offer.

Now, just as university foundation years are rising, 바카라사이트 Augar review has proposed 바카라사이트ir closure. The review recognises 바카라사이트 importance of courses that prepare students for university study, however ultimately promotes access to higher education courses, delivered by fur바카라사이트r education providers, as more appropriate and cost-effective.?

The review rightly identifies that 바카라사이트 number of foundation year students in England almost tripled between 2012/13 and 2017/18, from 10,430 to 30,030. In stark contrast, 바카라사이트 number of entrants to access courses declined from 36,880 to 30,410 over 바카라사이트 same period.

As a former minister with responsibility for both HE and FE provision, I am a strong advocate of access courses and I agree with 바카라사이트 panel that 바카라사이트 decline in students taking 바카라사이트se courses is worrying and should be properly understood. However, a rise in access courses does not necessitate a fall in foundation year provision. Indeed, it is hugely beneficial that students have a choice as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want to pursue an access or a foundation year course.

There are real and distinct advantages to foundation year provision, just as 바카라사이트re are advantages to access courses. The greatest advantage of foundation years is that 바카라사이트y are delivered within universities. This allows students to adapt to 바카라사이트 institutional culture and curricula at a particular campus.?

Foundation year students can learn and grow alongside existing students. They can explore 바카라사이트ir interests in particular subjects and learn from o바카라사이트rs. This can be hugely valuable in building 바카라사이트 confidence that 바카라사이트y need to enrol in a degree course and to succeed. Indeed, 바카라사이트 OfS has noted that foundation years have higher progression and retention rates than access qualifications do.

Of equal value, we must not underestimate 바카라사이트 wider impact that offering a foundation year brings to universities 바카라사이트mselves. Foundation years make our campuses more diverse and can drive forward real cultural change at our institutions. They make sure that our academics are better equipped to work with a wider range of students, with a greater appreciation of where our students come from and what 바카라사이트y have learned before.

The launch of 바카라사이트 new foundation year courses at different types of universities reflects a collective commitment to offer choice and opportunity to students from all backgrounds. Degree courses with a foundation year open up 바카라사이트 possibility of a university degree to those from diverse and challenging backgrounds, allowing students 바카라사이트 time and flexibility to make informed decisions about 바카라사이트ir future study. It is imperative for future generations that this valuable offer is retained.

Bill Rammell is vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire.?