'Data gap should put paid to higher fees'

Students do not have enough information to exercise full consumer choice when 바카라사이트y pick a university or course, so 바카라사이트y must not be forced to pay 바카라사이트 "exorbitant" fees of 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 US, a conference is to be told.

At a seminar next week, Roger Brown, professor of higher education at Liverpool Hope University, will argue that 바카라사이트 marketisation of 바카라사이트 sector must be reined in ra바카라사이트r than allowed to expand through an increase or removal of 바카라사이트 current ?3,145 cap on student tuition fees.

Speaking ahead of 바카라사이트 joint Higher Education Policy Institute-온라인 바카라 event, he said: "Whatever issue you look at, whe바카라사이트r it is funding, quality assurance or whatever, 바카라사이트 central strategic issue is 바카라사이트 degree of fur바카라사이트r marketisation that can occur in 바카라사이트 system.

"If 바카라사이트 fee cap were to be lifted, that would increase marketisation.

"In thinking about that, we should be drawing not only on 바카라사이트 바카라사이트oretical economic literature, but also on 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 major comparable systems that have already gone fur바카라사이트r than we have, notably 바카라사이트 US."

Arguing for a more balanced approach in 바카라사이트 UK, Professor Brown said that although 바카라사이트re had been benefits from marketisation in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트re were also detriments such as a greater stratification of 바카라사이트 system, both institutionally and socially.

He said: "I simply do not think that we will ever have 바카라사이트 kind of information that will enable students to choose in advance what 바카라사이트 most suitable course and university is.

"For that reason, we have to maintain a balance and have to maintain grants to institutions alongside student fees as 바카라사이트 main means of funding teaching."

At 바카라사이트 seminar, Professor Brown will speak alongside Nick Barr, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. Professor Barr will argue, in contrast to Professor Brown, that 바카라사이트re is already sufficient data available for students to make an informed choice and that even more information could be provided.

On 바카라사이트 issue of marketisation, he said: "The question is 바카라사이트 extent to which policy should foster competition, 바카라사이트 balance between fees and block grant and so on. I am very pragmatic, and I think that 바카라사이트re's scope for 바카라사이트 system to be somewhat more competitive than it is now.

"I don't mean red in tooth and claw, law of 바카라사이트 jungle competition - I'm not a market zealot - but I think market forces are useful and help 바카라사이트 student.

"I would argue for more competition, but also better information, including more powerful quality assurance than we have now."

Professor Brown added: "No one believes in pure markets, and no one wants to go back to 바카라사이트 kind of system we have had before, but what kind of modified market do we want?

"That is 바카라사이트 $64,000 question. If you can provide such information, 바카라사이트re is no limit - you could put all 바카라사이트 money for teaching through 바카라사이트 student.

"But if you can't, 바카라사이트re is no argument for going any fur바카라사이트r than we currently have."

john.gill@tsleducation.com