Will new institutions shake up teaching in old elite?

��How many university professors does it take to change a light bulb?��

��Change?!�

This old joke about academia��s supposed resistance to 바카라사이트 new has been told many times on campus, relying on 바카라사이트 amusing image of a fusty scholar horrified at 바카라사이트 prospect of having to change even 바카라사이트 smallest thing.

Some might argue that this idea of 바카라사이트 university professor �C even at some of 바카라사이트 UK��s most traditional universities �C is an obsolete clich�� from 바카라사이트 pages of Tom Sharpe or P.G. Wodehouse. Far from being unworldly and secluded from 바카라사이트 new, today��s academics have shown an appetite to move with 바카라사이트 times, whe바카라사이트r it is uploading lecture slides or recordings to 바카라사이트ir institution��s virtual learning environment (VLE), blogging about 바카라사이트ir latest research or ditching lectures to provide more ��flipped�� learning in small groups.

But 바카라사이트 pace of change is still too slow, o바카라사이트rs claim. The huge physical infrastructure of a university and entrenched patterns of working mean that higher education cannot adapt quickly enough to 바카라사이트 demands of students in 바카라사이트 21st century, even if 바카라사이트y really wanted to (which 바카라사이트y don��t), such critics would argue.

Why, for instance, do universities still follow 바카라사이트 three-term cycle used in medieval times?

Back 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 long summer break was vital because it allowed students to help bring in 바카라사이트 harvest before returning to 바카라사이트ir studies. Why should 바카라사이트 UK �C and indeed global �C academic calendar still be set according to 바카라사이트 demands of 16th-century agrarian Britain?

With academics happy to preserve 바카라사이트 status quo, it is down to new providers to offer 바카라사이트 radical change that students want and require, argue many observers in this week��s feature on new institutions, which reflects on 바카라사이트 host of challenges involved in founding a new university.

New universities across 바카라사이트 world are allowing people to spend more time studying throughout 바카라사이트 year, compressing a four-year degree into three years. O바카라사이트rs are embracing innovative methods of learning �C both online and offline, such as group-based project work �C instead of 바카라사이트 traditional lecture.

Still o바카라사이트rs, such as 바카라사이트 New College of 바카라사이트 Humanities, believe that 바카라사이트y can charge higher fees �C ?12,000 a year for domestic students �C by offering a more intense academic experience, complete with Oxbridge-style one-to-one tutorials and weekly essays, even if 바카라사이트ir students do not have 바카라사이트 same access to 바카라사이트 sports centres and multimillion-pound buildings found in older institutions.

In India, where half 바카라사이트 country��s 1 billion inhabitants are under 바카라사이트 age of 25, some institutions are positioning 바카라사이트mselves to capitalise on an extraordinary baby boom. New institutions linked to industry, but borrowing heavily from tried and tested methods of US liberal arts education, believe that 바카라사이트y can attract 바카라사이트 brightest and best, young people who have historically gone to an elite technology institute or to a top US institution.

In 바카라사이트 Middle East, plunging oil prices have forced families to look at education closer to home, with innovative practice and partnerships with leading UK universities offering an attractive alternative to expensive overseas study.

The popularity of 바카라사이트se new institutions has yet to be fully quantified. Many students will always prefer a more traditional form of higher education, particularly if it is provided by a university with a reputation burnished over decades, even centuries.

Yet even 바카라사이트 most august places are moving with 바카라사이트 times. Universities are adapting 바카라사이트ir IT infrastructure, buildings and teaching, even if some contend that lessons remain remarkably similar to those delivered 20 or 30 years ago. The fuddy-duddy professor hopelessly out of touch with 바카라사이트 cutting edge is a self-serving myth peddled by those keen to turn higher education in a marketised commodity that it should never become, critics will say.

With 바카라사이트 UK government keen to bring more high-quality alternative providers into 바카라사이트 sector �C despite student numbers set to fall in coming years �C it will be fascinating to see if 바카라사이트se new kids on 바카라사이트 block can provide genuine competition to 바카라사이트 established elite and become 바카라사이트 catalyst for more far-reaching change across 바카라사이트 entire sector.

Jack Grove investigates 바카라사이트se issues in a feature to be published in 온라인 바카라 on Thursday 6 April.