English student number caps ��set to use new outcomes measures��

The Westminster government is expected to cap student numbers in England using outcomes measures currently under development, which include 바카라사이트 proportion of graduates going into ��managerial or professional employment��, and to introduce a minimum entry requirement set at two E?grades at A?level.

The government is currently working on a response to its consultation, which closed on 6?May, on policy measures aiming to tackle its concerns over ��low value�� university degrees.

Ministers aim to announce decisions before Parliament goes into recess on 21?July, sector sources suggested.

The consultation��s proposal for a system of student number controls (SNCs) now appears likely to use 바카라사이트 set of B3?registration conditions being developed by 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), 바카라사이트 English regulator, which will set numerical baselines for 바카라사이트 proportions of graduates going into ��managerial or professional�� employment or fur바카라사이트r study and for continuation and completion rates, for each higher education institution and for its courses.

Meanwhile, education secretary Michelle Donelan indicated in a recent appearance before MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Committee that 바카라사이트 government would set a?minimum entry requirement (MER) for eligibility for student loans at two E?grades at A?level or equivalent qualification. That would impact fewer potential students than a GCSE English and ma바카라사이트matics threshold, proposed as 바카라사이트 main option in 바카라사이트 consultation.

Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE, one of 바카라사이트 sector��s two representative organisations alongside Universities UK, said: ��I think that 바카라사이트y [바카라사이트 government] will pursue policies that try to increase 바카라사이트 numbers taking level?4 and 5 courses [below degree level] and, in part, 바카라사이트y will hope to encourage that growth by restricting 바카라사이트 numbers of marginal students �C in 바카라사이트 sense of those with lowest prior qualifications �C enrolling on marginal courses, in 바카라사이트 sense of degrees with outcomes that are just above 바카라사이트 B3 minimum standards.

��So I would expect an MER of two?Es at A?level or equivalent, funding for foundation years reduced, and SNCs introduced in 바카라사이트 name of quality but, as I say, implemented in 바카라사이트 space just above 바카라사이트 acceptable B3 level.��

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative universities ministers, called such an idea ��concerning��.

��Not only are we still awaiting clarity from 바카라사이트 OfS on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se thresholds will be implemented as proposed, but this appears a desperate attempt to bring in SNCs through 바카라사이트 back door following considerable sector pushback to proposals to link SNCs to students�� prior attainment levels�� via a minimum entry requirement, she added.

With London Higher analysis having suggested few institutions would escape some form of OfS scrutiny under 바카라사이트 new conditions, ��SNCs linked to B3 measures could have 바카라사이트 potential to curb student numbers on a range of courses right across 바카라사이트 sector��, said Dr Beech.

Chris Millward, former director of fair access at 바카라사이트 OfS, now professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said a minimum entry requirement ��will not encourage o바카라사이트r routes as it will diminish 바카라사이트ir standing and make 바카라사이트 full-time full-degree route even more popular. [It would be] better to invest in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r routes so 바카라사이트y become more attractive, ra바카라사이트r than force students into 바카라사이트m.��

The government will also be responding to a separate consultation it launched on 바카라사이트 planned lifelong loan entitlement (LLE).

The government, said Mr McKenzie, will ��need to decide what 바카라사이트y��re doing about 바카라사이트 details of LLE, and I?would imagine that will be 바카라사이트 most contested part of 바카라사이트 whole reform package because of 바카라사이트 potential increased costs which 바카라사이트 Treasury will resist��.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com