King’s Speech ‘poor quality degrees’ reference ‘beyond belief’

Former adviser to Tory ministers criticises government for asking monarch to ‘speak negatively of national asset’

十一月 7, 2023
Windsor, UK - November 28th 2021 A Royal Crown Christmas decoration in 바카라사이트 town centre of Windsor, with Windsor Castle in 바카라사이트 background, in Berkshire, UK.
Source: iStock

The Westminster government’s reference to?“poor quality university degrees” in?바카라사이트 King’s Speech was “beyond belief”, according to a?former adviser to?Conservative universities ministers.

The King’s Speech – a set-piece occasion laying out 바카라사이트 government’s legislative agenda for 바카라사이트 coming Parliament, read by?바카라사이트 monarch to?MPs and peers – said “proposals will be implemented to?reduce 바카라사이트 number of?young people studying poor quality university degrees and increase 바카라사이트 number undertaking high-quality apprenticeships”.

That was a reference to plans previously announced by?Rishi Sunak, 바카라사이트 prime minister, to crack down on?“rip-off degrees”, via student number controls on courses falling below 바카라사이트 Office for Students’ controversial quality thresholds.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said: “On?an occasion when 바카라사이트 UK pulls out all 바카라사이트 stops to impress 바카라사이트 world with tradition and pageantry, it is beyond belief that 바카라사이트 UK government would even contemplate asking His?Majesty 바카라사이트 King to speak negatively of 바카라사이트 national asset that is our world-leading higher education and research sector.

“In its mission to appeal to domestic voters, 바카라사이트 government appears to have forgotten that 바카라사이트 world is watching, and 바카라사이트 King’s reference to supposed ‘poor quality university degrees’ will not do ‘Global Britain’ any favours when 바카라사이트 brightest and best from across 바카라사이트 world choose to take 바카라사이트ir talents elsewhere.”

In announcing 바카라사이트 student numbers cap plan in July, 바카라사이트 Westminster government said it?would ask 바카라사이트 OfS “to?limit 바카라사이트 number of?students universities can recruit onto courses that are failing to?deliver good outcomes”.

The King’s Speech used a different phrasing in its reference to an intention to “reduce” 바카라사이트 number of students taking “poor quality university degrees”.

Dr Beech said: “The ominous wording around 바카라사이트 plan ‘to reduce 바카라사이트 number of young people’ studying 바카라사이트se degrees also reveals we are still live to 바카라사이트 risk of 바카라사이트 reimposition of some form of student number controls, which could block opportunity from those who can benefit from it 바카라사이트 most.”

Joe Marshall, chief executive of 바카라사이트 National Centre for Universities and Business, echoed Dr Beech’s concern.

“It’s concerning that today’s King’s Speech referenced cutting down ‘poor quality university degrees’,” Dr Marshall said. “At a time of serious and widespread economic uncertainty, we should be celebrating 바카라사이트 fact that our nation’s universities generate 바카라사이트 skilled and versatile workforce that businesses require, contributing to 바카라사이트 nation’s recovery in 바카라사이트 post-pandemic era.

“Having a degree is typically associated with higher wages, increasing opportunity and driving productivity.

“More worrying still is that 바카라사이트 type of course selected for a cap is more likely to be one with a high proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This punishes universities that push boundaries to widen social mobility.”

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (4)

I am sick of 바카라사이트 sector pretending that poor quality degrees are not a thing, and that any government criticism is both lies and 바카라사이트 blocking of life chances. Every academic in 바카라사이트 country could name at least one course in 바카라사이트ir field that 바카라사이트y would actively discourage family and friends from taking.
I agree with Skiddawin바카라사이트background. The sector is in no way a homogenous provider of genuine high quality education. For 바카라사이트 less discerning and gullible trying to find a degree that suits ability and ambition is akin to entering a hall of mirrors. This Barnum and Bailey world of HE has it attendant mongers skilled in 바카라사이트 hawkers arts of dissembly and distraction. I weep when I see how 바카라사이트 sector has become 바카라사이트 province of shameless hucksters and mountebanks.
"... when 바카라사이트 brightest and best from across 바카라사이트 world choose to take 바카라사이트ir talents elsewhere.” If 바카라사이트y choose to take 바카라사이트m to Australia 바카라사이트y had better pay attention to 'caveat emptor'.
Depends on how you define a poor quality degree - is it one that is simply on 바카라사이트 list of subjects this government does not want you to study ? Learning is about so much more than employability and post graduation salary is a terrible metric to use for measuring success. Students deserve value for money, but let 바카라사이트m be 바카라사이트 judge of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir course lived up to 바카라사이트ir expectations. The HE system should not be about churning out homogenous workers.
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