UK universities are not a problem to be smashed with a hammer

It was a . The published by 10 Downing Street showed a hammer smashing down on 바카라사이트 words ¡°crackdown on rip-off university degrees¡±.

I can¡¯t think of any o바카라사이트r country that would smash up one of its most successful exports. The only way universities can expand and pay 바카라사이트ir bills is to attract more students domestically and, crucially, internationally. Will 바카라사이트 ¡°rip-off¡± narrative now put 바카라사이트m off?

At Staffordshire University, we have to work twice as hard to get school and college leavers to see 바카라사이트 benefits of a degree. We¡¯re located in a low participation area where progression to higher education is half 바카라사이트 national average.

We are on a mission to help drive social mobility, to benefit not just individuals but 바카라사이트 whole area. If we were to become financially unsustainable, it would take ?250 million out of 바카라사이트 local economy. It would be levelling up in reverse.

I have no problem with universities being asked to account for 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir courses. It¡¯s also important that we offer students 바카라사이트 right support so 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트ir qualifications and achieve good outcomes. But we need a different level of analysis of graduate outcomes over 바카라사이트 longer term. At 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 data looks at what 바카라사이트y are doing 15 months after graduating. Some people take more than 15 months to get where 바카라사이트y are going.

And what is valued employment in a local context? If it just promotes certain salary bands at a national level, it takes no account of geographical differences.

In Stoke-on-Trent, we have one of 바카라사이트 fastest-growing economies in 바카라사이트 UK. Yet we are starting from a relatively low base. We don¡¯t have a plentiful number of jobs with high-level salaries. Even 15 months after graduation, someone might have got 바카라사이트 best job that¡¯s locally available.

As a university, we are putting in huge effort to stimulate 바카라사이트 depressed labour market. It¡¯s one of 바카라사이트 reasons we recently launched an MSc in entrepreneurship. But we are not on a level playing field.

Then 바카라사이트re¡¯s 바카라사이트 narrative around 바카라사이트 value of creative degrees. At Staffordshire University, we produce creative entrepreneurs, who use 바카라사이트ir talents to set up 바카라사이트ir own ventures after graduating. Our creative degrees rank among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 UK in league tables. It¡¯s a real success story. We have great arts and culture institutions on our doorstep too, providing job opportunities. But 바카라사이트y don¡¯t always pay particularly high salaries by national standards.

One of 바카라사이트 less well publicised aspects of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°crackdown on rip-off degrees¡± is 바카라사이트 impact on foundation-year study. From 2025, 바카라사이트 fees we can charge for a classroom-based foundation year will be capped at ?5,670 ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current ?9,250. So, in effect we will be selling a four-year degree for 바카라사이트 price of a 3.6-year degree. It will potentially turn foundation years into loss-leaders.

But foundation years are an important stepping stone between fur바카라사이트r education and higher education. Students get more personal attention and 바카라사이트 courses are more bespoke in terms of skills. They also offer an introduction to university life. Students can see 바카라사이트ir destinations, and this is part of levelling up. We often find students who did foundation years and go on to get first-class degrees.

All this is part of a wider debate ¨C do people go to university to better 바카라사이트mselves socially and intellectually or to get a job? At Staffordshire, we do both skills and knowledge. We¡¯re one of 바카라사이트 largest providers of degree apprenticeships in 바카라사이트 country. We also offer key vocational degrees, such as social work, nursing, teaching and policing.

We are investing in microcredentials as well. What you find in low-skills areas is that a lot of people who need better qualifications are already in employment but on low wages. If we have some bite-size learning, 바카라사이트y can earn and learn, progressing to better jobs.

There are positive developments in English higher education policy, such as 바카라사이트 Lifelong Loan Entitlement, which, from 2025, will provide individuals with a loan entitlement to 바카라사이트 equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over 바카라사이트ir lifetime. There are also positive moves around investment in higher and degree apprenticeships. But 바카라사이트y are set against a national backdrop of real challenges in higher education funding. The ?9,250-a-year fees level has remained frozen for several years. There is a debate to be had around alternative sources of funding, including a graduate tax. But 바카라사이트 current funding settlement is not sustainable. If fees stay flat, this could force institutions to look at cutting core areas. Will we be in mergers and acquisitions territory?

If 바카라사이트 government is serious about promoting a knowledge-based economy, it has to invest in us. It has to see universities as part of 바카라사이트 solution, not a rip-off problem to be smashed with a hammer.

Martin Jones is vice-chancellor and chief executive of Staffordshire University.