A peek at Australia��s Petri dish

��Explosive�� is 바카라사이트 word used by one vice-chancellor to describe this week��s figures showing 2013 acceptance rates by individual university.

We knew 바카라사이트 shockwave was coming, but because of a time lag in 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 data, it has taken a while to reach us.

With 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 figures by Ucas, we can finally see 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 ABB policy, 바카라사이트 winners and 바카라사이트 losers in 바카라사이트 scrap for students, and who has been hit by a second consecutive year of below-target intake

Because of 바카라사이트 time lag and 바카라사이트 pace of reform, however, things have already moved on, with 바카라사이트 focus now firmly on 바카라사이트 implications of abolishing 바카라사이트 student numbers cap.

To shed some light on this, our cover feature looks to Australia �C whose higher education sector has close parallels and links to that of 바카라사이트 UK.

Australia��s higher education sector has close parallels to that of 바카라사이트 UK. It was Australia that pioneered 바카라사이트 income contingent loan, later adopted here

This is 바카라사이트 case not only in terms of personnel moving between 바카라사이트 two but also in terms of policy: it was Australia that pioneered 바카라사이트 income contingent loan, later adopted here; Australia that shot itself in 바카라사이트 foot over international students (a mistake being replicated here); and Australia that first developed 바카라사이트 assessment of research impact.

So it is instructive to hear figures from across 바카라사이트 Australian sector, from vice-chancellors to students, describing 바카라사이트ir own experiences of an uncapped, demand-led system �C a system, it should be noted, that 바카라사이트 current administration has put under review.

A common denominator in many of 바카라사이트se commentaries is 바카라사이트 question of quality: 바카라사이트 influx of students (undergraduate numbers have increased by almost a quarter in 바카라사이트 past four years) has clearly put a strain on 바카라사이트 system.

One of several bones of contention 바카라사이트re is how staffing has changed in response to 바카라사이트 growth, with some warning that staff numbers have failed to keep pace with enrolments, and that this has fed 바카라사이트 casualisation of 바카라사이트 academic workforce.

This is very much a live issue in 바카라사이트 UK, too, as universities seek to change 바카라사이트 ratio of staff to non-staff costs on 바카라사이트ir balance sheets even before 바카라사이트 numbers cap is removed.

In 바카라사이트 UK thus far, debate about 바카라사이트 policy shift has focused mainly on funding, and how 바카라사이트 government hopes to pay for 바카라사이트 60,000 additional students expected each year (바카라사이트 answer �C by selling off 바카라사이트 student loan book �C has satisfied no one).

Funding is also a major issue in Australia: just this week 바카라사이트 elite Group of Eight universities called to be given freedom to opt out of government funding and instead to charge full fees on some courses.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities minister, is believed to be planning a visit to Australia. If true it��s tempting to say that this seems a bit post hoc as a fact-finding mission, but that may say more about 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 student numbers decision was made (ie, on 바카라사이트 hoof in 바카라사이트 chancellor��s Autumn Statement) than anything else.

But better late than never. The fact that 바카라사이트 Australian higher education sector is several years ahead of us on this enables us to?bypass 바카라사이트 time lag between policy being implemented and 바카라사이트 outcomes, and unintended consequences, becoming apparent.

In 바카라사이트 minefield ahead, that might just save us a limb or two.

john.gill@tsleducation.com