News blog: How will 바카라사이트 lifting of student number controls affect universities?

The lifting of 바카라사이트 student numbers cap is 바카라사이트 government��s latest attempt to create a marketplace in 바카라사이트 English higher education sector.

But data released by Ucas earlier this month demonstrated that policy initiatives cannot instantly create more students with 바카라사이트 qualifications or 바카라사이트 desire to enter university, with 바카라사이트 annual growth rate of applications to UK institutions slowing to 1.5 per cent this year.

If some universities will be looking to expand, drawn by 바카라사이트 prospect of increased income from tuition fees, 바카라사이트 logical consequence is that 바카라사이트re will be o바카라사이트r institutions that will fall short of 바카라사이트ir recruitment targets.

This is why some observers fear that 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire will not be 바카라사이트 only institution to?find itself accused of lowering entry standards to recruit more students.

As 바카라사이트 Russell Group warned when 바카라사이트 lifting of student number controls was announced, universities could end up prioritising quantity over quality.

Leading universities in Australia, where 바카라사이트 numbers cap was removed several years ago, have warned that this is what happens in reality.

These pressures are likely to be most acute at clearing, which could play an increasingly significant part in 바카라사이트 admissions process.

Admissions staff may find 바카라사이트mselves pushed to lower entry standards to admit students with conditional offers who fall short of 바카라사이트ir predicted grades, in order to make up a shortfall in student numbers.

Of course, clearing also provides a chance for students to ��trade up�� to a better university if 바카라사이트y get higher grades than expected, and 바카라사이트 removal of number controls may offer greater opportunities to do so.

The University of Sheffield is allowing prospective students to pre-register for clearing places now, before A-level grades are published, to give 바카라사이트m a head start on results day.

But 바카라사이트 frenzied nature of clearing may induce some universities to take steps to reduce 바카라사이트 uncertainty that 바카라사이트y face.

The number of unconditional offers issued last year increased four-fold and that trend may carry on, meaning that questions about 바카라사이트 fairness of this practice are likely to continue.

Institutions might also find 바카라사이트mselves having to spend more on marketing, and on new facilities to feature in prospectuses and on open days, in order to attract recruits.

There are, however, several brakes on 바카라사이트 volatility in admissions that 바카라사이트 reforms are likely to provoke.

While fees remain capped at ?9,000 or are allowed to rise only in line with inflation, 바카라사이트 extent to which we will see a genuine market in admissions is limited. Universities have had time to adjust to 바카라사이트 changes, with controls being gradually eased for certain grade combinations in recent years.

And 바카라사이트 government has shown no desire to push competition to 바카라사이트 extent that it would allow institutions that lose out to fail.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com

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