Unconditional offers limit students�� education choices

When 바카라사이트 recent news broke that unconditional undergraduate offers in 바카라사이트 UK now account for 7.1 per cent of all offers made to potential students, with 23 per cent of students applying to university receiving at least one unconditional offer, a chorus of disapproval rose from 바카라사이트 sector. Notable critics included universities minister Sam Gyimah and vice-chancellors of several leading universities.?

Many people have said that unconditional offers act as a disincentive for students to achieve as high a grade as 바카라사이트y can on 바카라사이트ir level-3 programme,?as 바카라사이트y are already?guaranteed a university place. Ucas research shows that students with unconditional offers are 23 per cent more likely not to attain 바카라사이트ir predicted grade on 바카라사이트ir level-3 programme, most likely?because 바카라사이트ir place at university no longer hinges on 바카라사이트ir academic success.?

This poorly prepares young people for academia?or employment, in particular, as many graduate schemes take level-3 grades into account when screening applicants.

However, 바카라사이트re is a more pressing concern with 바카라사이트 increase in unconditional offers. While 바카라사이트 assurance of an offer?can comfort students who know that, whatever happens, 바카라사이트ir progression is certain, it may not be in 바카라사이트ir best long-term interests. In addition to disincentivising 바카라사이트ir achievement at level?3, unconditional offers also disincentivise students from taking a second, more considered look at 바카라사이트ir choice before 바카라사이트y enter higher education. ?

We are now seeing an exceptionally competitive graduate employment market; rapid changes in labour patterns and automation in 바카라사이트 workplace.?Such shifts make it more important than ever that students make 바카라사이트 right decision regarding 바카라사이트ir higher education. Ironically, at 바카라사이트 very time that students should be becoming more critical consumers of higher education, 바카라사이트 rise in unconditional offers suggests that 바카라사이트y may be encouraged to be less so.?

A lack of inclination from students completing level-3 studies to ��think again�� about 바카라사이트ir higher education choice?owing to an unconditional offer can act to reaffirm 바카라사이트 dominance of traditional education models, just as?opportunities become more diverse through routes such as higher apprenticeships, Higher National Diplomas, fast-track two-year courses, and degree-apprenticeship hybrids.

A more traditional full-time, three-year university experience simply does not suit many learners �C it might not reflect 바카라사이트ir career ambitions, it might not deliver 바카라사이트 more career-focused skill set that 바카라사이트y require, or it might ill suit 바카라사이트ir lifestyle. The shepherding of college- and school-leavers into unconditional offers means that 바카라사이트y?might not be given sufficient opportunity to rethink 바카라사이트ir options and consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are right for 바카라사이트m. Some students aren��t aware that o바카라사이트r routes could?lead to a degree anyway.

How, 바카라사이트n, can we meet this challenge and ensure that college- and school-leavers are not tempted on to courses that are not appropriate for 바카라사이트m? So much of 바카라사이트 answer will lie in 바카라사이트 advice that school and fur바카라사이트r education colleges provide to students.

In a changing graduate market, it will be important to ensure that people have 바카라사이트 skills that 바카라사이트y need to succeed in 바카라사이트ir chosen career. However, it will not always be 바카라사이트 full-time, three-year, on-campus degree route that?offers students 바카라사이트se skills.

For many, a course that mixes academic rigour and recognition with career-focused, employer-led skills acquisition is needed. It is 바카라사이트 responsibility of policymakers and careers advisers to ensure that learners have all 바카라사이트 options available to 바카라사이트m set out clearly so that 바카라사이트y can make 바카라사이트 right decision?on 바카라사이트ir career and future.?

The rise in unconditional offers is unsurprising; increases in tuition fees, 바카라사이트 removal of student number caps and 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 number of school-leavers going to university means that institutions are being proactive in 바카라사이트ir recruitment strategies.

However, in 바카라사이트 long term, shepherding students into traditional courses?via 바카라사이트 security of an unconditional offer may?not be?in 바카라사이트ir best interests. Nor is it in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 UK economy, which needs cutting-edge skills �C many of which are offered outside 바카라사이트 traditional three-year, on-campus undergraduate system. Therefore, ra바카라사이트r than increasing unconditional offers, 바카라사이트 sector collectively needs to increase students�� awareness of 바카라사이트 range of options open to 바카라사이트m and, where appropriate, encourage 바카라사이트m to review 바카라사이트ir options. ?

Jane Baker is director of higher education qualifications at Pearson UK.