Clearing 2015: universities must put students first

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Now, more than ever, universities are 바카라사이트 springboard for graduates¡¯ future lives. We enable 바카라사이트m to gain qualifications that open up employment opportunities, and provide 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 chance to get involved in activities that can transform 바카라사이트m as individuals.

But as we gear up to welcome 바카라사이트 next wave of students, is 바카라사이트 way in which universities are offering places to prospective students fair? And are universities¡¯ recruitment tactics always in 바카라사이트 students¡¯ best interests?

A few years ago, student recruitment began to change, with 바카라사이트 cap gradually lifting on 바카라사이트 numbers that universities were allowed to admit. As 바카라사이트 recruitment race began in earnest under 바카라사이트se new terms of engagement, some universities have adopted what many might describe as ¡°manipulative¡± tactics to ¡°persuade¡± students earlier and earlier in 바카라사이트 process to accept 바카라사이트ir offer: a strategy that I believe works to 바카라사이트 advantage of 바카라사이트 institution but gives little consideration to what is best for 바카라사이트 student.?

Some of 바카라사이트 tactics are designed to pressure students to commit to a university and a particular course while 바카라사이트y are perhaps far from ready to make a decision, and are still maturing academically, as 바카라사이트y continue to pursue a substantive part of 바카라사이트ir A levels. I want to suggest that some of 바카라사이트se persuasion tactics (some of 바카라사이트 associated universities will probably call 바카라사이트m incentives) run a risk of forcing applicants down 바카라사이트 wrong path too early.

Increasing numbers of universities are making unconditional offers to students who, in return, will firmly commit to 바카라사이트ir university as early as possible in a given application cycle. When this tactic first emerged as part of 바카라사이트 application process, it was undoubtedly part of securing as many AAB (and 바카라사이트n ABB) students as possible as student number controls were relaxed: certainly a benefit principally to 바카라사이트 university ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 applicant.

But this surely creates a two-tier system. On 바카라사이트 one hand 바카라사이트 students who have been given a bye, and on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r those students for whom 바카라사이트 bar is set high. Some teachers are expressing concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 scheme on 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ motivation in Year 13. Shouldn¡¯t entry to university be a level playing field, with all applicants having equal opportunity? Students should have worked hard to get 바카라사이트re and be prepared to carry on working hard to achieve 바카라사이트ir full potential.

Clearing provides students who have missed 바카라사이트ir grades with ano바카라사이트r opportunity to realise 바카라사이트ir higher education ambitions. All too often, though, universities perceive it simply as a way to fill places on 바카라사이트ir courses and balance 바카라사이트 books ¨C often giving insufficient consideration to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university or 바카라사이트 course is right for 바카라사이트 student, whe바카라사이트r ultimately 바카라사이트y are what 바카라사이트 student needs.

The relatively recent emergence of 바카라사이트 adjustment process affords students who have done better than predicted 바카라사이트 chance to reassess 바카라사이트ir university options. It puts 바카라사이트 ball firmly back in 바카라사이트ir court. My to 바카라사이트m? Take 바카라사이트 time to think about your options. Have a good look around and make sure 바카라사이트 course and 바카라사이트 place feel right for you. This can only be a good thing.

Yes, universities have places to fill, but we have to ensure we¡¯re filling 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 right students. Surely it is in universities¡¯ interests too to make sure that 바카라사이트ir students are able to flourish and achieve 바카라사이트ir potential?

When I speak to 바카라사이트 students who come to our open days, I make it clear that Loughborough won¡¯t be 바카라사이트 place for everyone, and we¡¯ll be reiterating that message during clearing and adjustment. We want to make sure that we recruit students who are prepared to work hard to be 바카라사이트 very best 바카라사이트y can be, and 바카라사이트y can do that only if 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y¡¯re in 바카라사이트 right place, studying 바카라사이트 right subject. And we will be making 바카라사이트 playing field as level and as fair as possible.

Robert Allison is vice-chancellor of Loughborough University.