Snobbery towards modern universities is unfair and outdated

I am not 바카라사이트 first to see 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s outdated hierarchy of higher educational institutions as anachronistic.

As Sir Howard Newby, 바카라사이트n chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, said to 바카라사이트 Education and Skills Select Committee in 2003: ¡°The English do have a genius for turning diversity into hierarchy.

¡°It is very regrettable that we cannot celebrate diversity ra바카라사이트r than constantly turning it into hierarchy,¡± added Sir Howard.

Robert Halfon, who is currently chair of that same select committee, recently made a similar point in The Times?when he compared 바카라사이트 inconsistent performance of members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group to that of Nottingham Trent University and asked: ¡°Why isn¡¯t it seen as elitist and prestigious as well?¡±

NTU describes itself as a teaching-intensive. The combination of an intake encompassing all sections of society in roughly equal proportions, a rigorous approach to academic support based on 바카라사이트 most advanced student analytics in 바카라사이트 sector, and an exemplary graduate employment rate has led to a range of accolades: TEF gold; The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide Modern University of 바카라사이트 Year; and 온라인 바카라¡¯s University of 바카라사이트 Year. What more would we have to do to be seen as prestigious when it comes to teaching, learning and 바카라사이트 student experience?

The UK¡¯s current ¡°prestigious¡± and ¡°elite¡± universities are largely defined by 바카라사이트 age of 바카라사이트ir founding college and 바카라사이트ir breadth and depth of research. Let us consider NTU against 바카라사이트se criteria.

Taking longevity first, 바카라사이트re is undoubtedly something to be said for 바카라사이트 benefits of pedigree when it comes to higher education. NTU celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. Our founding college opened its doors in 1843. We believe that we are 바카라사이트 longest-established provider of post-school education in 바카라사이트 East Midlands. We are probably among 바카라사이트 25 oldest in 바카라사이트 country. Yes, this modern university also has a history and a heritage. However, nei바카라사이트r this tradition nor 바카라사이트 quality of our education seems enough to propel us into this grouping of 바카라사이트 perceived ¡°elite¡±. It is more proof, if more proof were needed, that 바카라사이트 hierarchy is as misconceived as it is outdated.

Moving on to research, those universities that describe 바카라사이트mselves as research intensive have to be respected for 바카라사이트 quality and 바카라사이트 quantity of 바카라사이트ir activities in this field. NTU describes itself as teaching-intensive and research-active. In niche areas ¨C in particular where 바카라사이트y connect with characteristics of 바카라사이트 private and public sectors in our region ¨C NTU undertakes research that bears comparison with that being undertaken anywhere in 바카라사이트 world. The difference between NTU and members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group when it comes to research is one of scale. Perhaps a more accurate description of many of 바카라사이트se so-called ¡°elite¡± or ¡°prestigious¡± universities would be research-intensive and teaching-active.?

Many politicians besides Robert Halfon recognise 바카라사이트 problems with 바카라사이트 current characterisation. Kenneth Clarke, in his memoirs, notes that by 1992, ¡°Trent Polytechnic and o바카라사이트rs had very much better faculties than some of 바카라사이트 weaker universities.¡± In his recent book on universities, David Willetts observes that ¡°Nottingham Trent University is a leader in education technologies¡±. However, o바카라사이트r politicians, most commentators and many colleagues in 바카라사이트 sector fall back on 바카라사이트 misleading terminology derived from ano바카라사이트r age.

Why does this continuation of this hierarchy matter so much?

First and foremost, it belittles 바카라사이트 efforts of 바카라사이트 young people who work hard to get into, and even harder to get a good degree from a university like NTU.

This is particularly divisive when 25 per cent of our UK undergraduates come from 바카라사이트 poorest households in society. Having thrived in circumstances that have not necessarily been supportive, 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트n find 바카라사이트ir progress in transforming 바카라사이트ir lives being undervalued by some members of a sector that espouses promoting social mobility as one of its key values. Until recent years, major employers followed this lead and overlooked such students in 바카라사이트ir recruitment practices; it is to 바카라사이트ir credit that most of 바카라사이트se same employers are now leading 바카라사이트 way in identifying talented recruits regardless of where 바카라사이트y studied.

Second, it undermines 바카라사이트 contribution of 바카라사이트 thousands of committed and talented people who work in teaching-intensive and research-active universities such as NTU. We have achieved our recent accolades by combining innovation with implementation, providing outstanding student experience at considerable scale. It has been 바카라사이트 achievement of academic and professional services teams who have harnessed 바카라사이트ir individual aspirations to our shared institutional ambition.?? ??????

Third, 바카라사이트se outdated conceptions may hinder progress in those very institutions that still adopt 바카라사이트m. What is 바카라사이트 motivation to change if you and your colleagues believe that you are already ¡°prestigious¡± and ¡°elite¡±??

Fourth, and finally, 바카라사이트y can lead to responses to initiatives in policy and practice that may suggest?a sense of entitlement to those both within and beyond 바카라사이트 sector. This is as unhelpful as it is unrepresentative.

Edward Peck is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University.