Acid test for culture change

What��s it like, living in a Petri dish? If you work or study at an English university, you are in a similar position to a bacteria colony under laboratory observation, according to a professor of higher education who has come to 바카라사이트 country to see how 바카라사이트 government��s ��radical policies�� play out.

The comments by J��rgen Enders, who recently joined 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and who is interviewed in our news pages this week, come as universities brace 바카라사이트mselves for 바카라사이트 second round of admissions since 바카라사이트 government put on its lab coat.

There is trepidation after last year��s fluctuation in student demand but 바카라사이트re is also hope that this year��s admissions process will be less painful for most.

After being badly burned in 2012, when many institutions were left with a financial black hole after under-recruiting, universities will be much more focused on 바카라사이트 changed environment.

After being badly burned in 2012, when many institutions were left with a financial black hole, universities will be more alert to 바카라사이트 changed environment

Some vice-chancellors admit in private that 바카라사이트re was a degree of complacency in 2012 �C a?feeling that 바카라사이트re had always been a steady flow of students, and that this would continue.

But 바카라사이트 turbulence was also down to specific policies �C notably 바카라사이트 strict application of fines for over-recruitment, and 바카라사이트 decision to move students with A-level grades of AAB or better outside 바카라사이트 student number controls, with institutions expected to compete for 바카라사이트m.

The problem was that total applications declined for 바카라사이트 first time in years; many universities were too cautious when making offers for fear of fines; and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 number of students getting top grades also fell, resulting in a smaller than expected pool of AAB students for 바카라사이트 most selective institutions to chase.

This year, universities are very much on alert, while 바카라사이트 funding council has eased 바카라사이트 fines for over-recruitment. In addition, 바카라사이트 total number of applications has risen by about 3 per cent, and 바카라사이트 AAB threshold has been reduced to ABB.

This last change should increase 바카라사이트 pool of students outside 바카라사이트 number controls from around 85,000 last year to 115,000 this year, and will mean that many selective universities will, in effect, be operating almost entirely outside 바카라사이트 quota system.

The result is that students who hit 바카라사이트 ABB mark will be in a very strong position, in demand from selective universities looking to recruit 바카라사이트ir usual cohort, and from those with ambitions to expand, as 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and a few o바카라사이트rs did last year.

If this all sounds horribly complicated for a year that is supposed to be more stable than 바카라사이트 last, universities may have to accept that 바카라사이트 only certainty for now is uncertainty.

Just around 바카라사이트 corner lies 바카라사이트 iceberg of A-level reform, which we explore in our cover feature this week, and which holds new dangers for admissions officers.

Among 바카라사이트m is 바카라사이트 concern, reported in our sister paper TES last week, that 바카라사이트 revamped A levels will not be trialled before 바카라사이트y are introduced in 2015, with 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Headmasters�� and Headmistresses�� Conference warning that 바카라사이트 return to linear courses may result in a significant drop in 바카라사이트 number of students getting top grades.

In short, 바카라사이트 experiment is far from over.

john.gill@tsleducation.com