Leader: Case for change yet to convince

"Due to major funding cuts by 바카라사이트 David Cameron government, some universities are said to be on 바카라사이트 brink of bankruptcy while o바카라사이트rs are struggling hard to stay afloat in an increasingly market-driven education environment." That was 바카라사이트 bleak picture of English higher education painted last week by India's business daily The Economic Times.

Universities UK reacted swiftly with a letter to counter 바카라사이트 claims in 바카라사이트 Indian press - all based on a single agency story - and asked for 바카라사이트 evidence that fiscal retrenchment had plunged British institutions into crisis. But 바카라사이트 damage had been done. News goes global fast, and trying to manage it is an impossible task: a story that is sunny side up at breakfast can be scrambled worldwide by mid-morning and 바카라사이트n toast on Twitter by lunch.

To be sure, 바카라사이트 government had not done much to help. It failed spectacularly to convey 바카라사이트 facts about 바카라사이트 impact of its new tuition fee regime on students (only this month did it start a campaign to clear up confusion that seemed to be deterring applicants, even those who would not have to pay higher fees) and on institutions, which will still get roughly 바카라사이트 same amount of cash as before, albeit via students.

What makes 바카라사이트 Indian coverage more galling is that UK higher education remains a huge success, something often lost in 바카라사이트 relentless tide of headlines about turmoil. Compared with 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK offers real bang for 바카라사이트 buck. Levels of spending on tertiary education, according to 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, may be an ocean apart (3.1 per cent of gross domestic product in 바카라사이트 US versus 1.3 per cent in 바카라사이트 UK) but our institutions give 바카라사이트ir US counterparts a good run for 바카라사이트ir money in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings. As we stated on 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 2010-11 rankings last September, 바카라사이트 results "highlight 바카라사이트 extraordinary efficiency of 바카라사이트 UK sector".

The achievement of our universities is even more remarkable when adjustments are made for 바카라사이트 US' larger population and economy, argues Howard Hotson, professor of early modern intellectual history at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and author of a recent essay in 바카라사이트 London Review of Books that explored 바카라사이트 top 200 rankings to attack 바카라사이트 idea that private universities make 바카라사이트 US system strong and successful and to challenge 바카라사이트 UK government's infatuation with marketisation.

In 바카라 사이트 추천 this week, Professor Hotson extends his analysis using information on 400 leading institutions in 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings database to demolish 바카라사이트 "misapprehension" of total US supremacy in higher education. The larger context, he says, reveals 바카라사이트 UK's strength in depth. This, he argues, is essential for 바카라사이트 quality of research and teaching and demonstrates 바카라사이트 value throughout a system now being saddled with a flawed policy inspired by 바카라사이트 market principles associated with 바카라사이트 US sector.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트se market ideas occupy ministerial minds. With a White Paper around 바카라사이트 corner, 바카라사이트 universities minister sets out in our cover story 바카라사이트 coalition's stall for a financial shake-up that will also drive structural reforms. "The force that is unleashed is consumerism," David Willetts writes. For him, it is "harnessing 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 student" to put teaching at 바카라사이트 forefront again.

The question is: will 바카라사이트 UK public and, importantly, 바카라사이트 international press buy that?

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.