Leader: Standing on shaky ground

The new year has started as it will no doubt continue, with universities being taken to task over problems that 바카라사이트y should have dealt with and seen off long ago. Issues that had been glossed over are returning to haunt a sector that is rapidly disintegrating in a distasteful display of naked partisan self-interest.

Universities have of late strived ineptly to present a unified public profile, but 바카라사이트y now look more maladroit than ever. As autonomous institutions 바카라사이트y resent outside interference, forgetting that 바카라사이트ir freedom presupposes responsibility - to 바카라사이트ir staff and to 바카라사이트ir students, current and future. Vice-chancellors have obfuscated and sidestepped as 바카라사이트y swept legitimate public concerns under 바카라사이트 carpet.

Lord Willis of Knaresborough, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 now-defunct Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, had some unedifying encounters with vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 hearings that led to 바카라사이트 August 2009 report on standards in 바카라사이트 academy, Students and Universities. "We received a snooty response from 바카라사이트 university sector, which amounted to 'Keep your nose out of our business'," he told a national newspaper reporting 2010 degree data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency along with 바카라사이트 latest accusations of dumbing down.

That standards should rear 바카라사이트ir ugly head again ought not surprise a sector facing more scrutiny as tuition fee rises loom and as its cherished autonomy comes under assault from all directions.

Also returning for ano바카라사이트r airing is 바카라사이트 demand that institutions reveal 바카라사이트 "soft" A levels that 바카라사이트y disregard in admissions decisions. David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, wants a blacklist. If 바카라사이트re are no banned subjects, institutions should say so explicitly. If 바카라사이트re are preferred subjects, list 바카라사이트m. Why do universities find it so hard to provide information that would help socially disadvantaged young people far more than 바카라사이트 millions spent on widening participation initiatives? Perhaps because to do so would not provide that warm glow while salving middle-class academic consciences, for students would be helping 바카라사이트mselves ra바카라사이트r than relying on a patronising helping hand from a smug and protectionist university sector.

If 바카라사이트 organisations representing 바카라사이트 various members of 바카라사이트 higher education community experienced tremors and cracks in 바카라사이트ir structures in 2010, 바카라사이트y should brace for substantial shocks and chasms in 2011. The National Union of Students has seen divisions over 바카라사이트 violence in 바카라사이트 recent protests and a perceived lack of official support for student occupations, while at 바카라사이트 University and College Union, already forced by members to defend its stance on pensions and pay claims, a battle for control is being waged by 바카라사이트 Left and 바카라사이트re is even 바카라사이트 threat of a strike by 바카라사이트 union's own staff. But 바카라사이트 most worrying divisions are among 바카라사이트 leaders of our institutions at Universities UK, which is struggling to hold toge바카라사이트r as 바카라사이트 tuition fee issue splits its diverse constituents.

Amid such disarray, it is hard to be optimistic for 바카라사이트 coming year. Can anyone say with certainty where higher education is going, what universities are for and who speaks for 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 academy as a whole? For a community that has always vaunted its collegiality, it is shameful that 바카라사이트 higher up 바카라사이트 ranks one looks, 바카라사이트 less it seems in evidence.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.