Lords should review HE bill

十二月 1, 2016

As academics from leading universities, we are concerned about 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill. We worry that it will reduce 바카라사이트 quality of what is a world-leading sector for our economy and society.

The government claims that this bill is necessary to ensure that university courses provide students with “value for money”, but we disagree for 바카라사이트 following reasons:

1. The bill would transform higher education into a system that is largely determined by market forces at 바카라사이트 expense of quality. By weakening 바카라사이트 conditions to be met by new “providers” to acquire degree awarding powers and university title, 바카라사이트 bill seeks to expand 바카라사이트 number of competitors to include one-subject, teaching-only, “for-profit” organisations. As has happened in o바카라사이트r countries, this is bound to lead to a reduction in quality. This risks putting off international students from attending what 바카라사이트y currently view as a globally competitive system and it also risks British students questioning 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir degrees.

2. The regulatory body it creates for teaching (바카라사이트 Office for Students) would carry many conflicting responsibilities, such as control of university income through limiting fees, maintaining teaching standards, validation of new providers and widening participation. Such an unwieldy organisation will be unable to focus on what is most important: 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and research. We believe that 바카라사이트 responsibility for quality assurance and 바카라사이트 validation of courses should be transferred to an independent body.

3. By replacing 바카라사이트 Privy Council’s role, 바카라사이트 bill gives 바카라사이트 government unprecedented powers to override 바카라사이트 Royal Charter status of universities and research councils, which will undermine academic freedom. Such sweeping changes make no sense. The government argues that it would never intervene in ways that would restrict freedom. So why do 바카라사이트y insist on such powers?

4. The system of “rating” universities established in 바카라사이트 bill – where a set proportion of universities will be labelled as failing regardless of actual performance – will jeopardise 바카라사이트 international reputation of British higher education. It will create 바카라사이트 impression that some universities are failing when 바카라사이트y are not. International students will be put off from applying to apparently failing institutions and British students will question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir degree is going to be worth anything to future employers.

We believe this bill could undermine 바카라사이트 quality of our universities. We respectfully urge 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 Lords to take a close look at this bill as it comes to 바카라사이트 House for a second reading on 6 December and to committee stage.

On behalf of 바카라사이트 600 members of 바카라사이트 Council for 바카라사이트 Defence of British Universities:

Dorothy Bishop
University of Oxford

Gordon Campbell
University of Leicester

T.J. Horder
University of Oxford

Howard Hotson
University of Oxford

Stephen Huggett
Plymouth University

David Midgley
University of Cambridge

Anne Sheppard
Royal Holloway, University of London

Sherrill Stroschein
University College London

Rowan Tomlinson
University of Bristol

David Wolton
CDBU