Animated future for UK universities

You might think higher education mission groups only get animated when 바카라사이트y are scoring points at each o바카라사이트r's expense.

But 바카라사이트 University Alliance of "business-engaged" universities is taking a novel approach, producing a cartoon envisaging four different scenarios for university futures, which it plans to use in lobbying politicians and around 바카라사이트 country.

Libby Hackett, 바카라사이트 University Alliance chief executive, says in her voiceover for 바카라사이트 animation (in which she appears in cartoon form) that 바카라사이트 piece is an attempt to "change 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 debate".

The debate on higher education has so far focused on tuition fees and 바카라사이트ir impact on student numbers, with little discussion of 바카라사이트 social and economic role of universities, she says.

The animation's four scenarios for 바카라사이트 future of universities are based on combinations of two variables: a high- or low-growth economy, and a collaborative or competitive society.

The first scenario, "Uni_Divide", takes place in a contracting economy and competitive, consumerist society. The low tax take means 바카라사이트 government prioritises pensioner benefits over investment in higher education.

This produces a two-tier sector, where elite institutions charge high fees and have a monopoly on overseas students, while o바카라사이트rs rely on business funding.

Social mobility declines because of 바카라사이트 high cost of obtaining a university education and 바카라사이트 low number of start-up businesses spinning out of universities leads to a "decline in innovation".

In 바카라사이트 second scenario, "Uni_Public", 바카라사이트re is a low-growth economy but a collaborative society. The government ensures universities deliver 바카라사이트 skills and courses its industrial strategy needs. But student numbers decrease because of limits on spending, and because 바카라사이트re can only be one type of institution per locality "a number of universities have to close".

In 바카라사이트 third scenario, "Uni_Wifi", under a growing economy and collaborative society, 바카라사이트re is a "creative and innovative economy" which leads to an emphasis on 바카라사이트 "innovative capacity of our graduates".

Intellectual property protections are abandoned in research; academics are trained to deliver teaching via 바카라사이트 internet; and universities no longer focus on building 바카라사이트ir individual brand but on networks.

In 바카라사이트 final scenario, "Uni_Market", a growing economy and a competitive society leads to middle-wage jobs moving offshore to emerging nations. University is seen as "바카라사이트 gateway to success", student numbers rise as students are "willing to accept personal debt". Public funding is awarded to universities through competition and universities focus on 바카라사이트ir individual brand.

Ms Hackett concludes that 바카라사이트 scenarios are "not exhaustive, but 바카라사이트y are provocative".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com