Loamshire quality questioned by degrees

It was always probable that 바카라사이트 uncontrolled expansion of higher education would call into question 바카라사이트 assumption that a degree of a similar class in one university would be 바카라사이트 equivalent of 바카라사이트 same degree in ano바카라사이트r.

The findings of 바카라사이트 research commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council based on 바카라사이트 performance of "old" universities is more disturbing. It does not take much insight to know a first class degree in physics at Cambridge is not 바카라사이트 same thing as a degree in media studies from 바카라사이트 University of Loamshire. But to learn that some established universities consistently award more first and second class degrees than o바카라사이트rs do is more worrying. It could, of course, be 바카라사이트 case that 바카라사이트 universities in question were getting better students. But it is noted that some had below-average entry requirements. And in general it is admitted by most of those with close contact with 바카라사이트 university scene that all entry standards are lower than 바카라사이트y used to be.

The o바카라사이트r possible explanation is that 바카라사이트 universities which give more first classes and upper seconds are teaching more effectively. But it is hard to believe that in universities 바카라사이트re has been a general improvement in 바카라사이트 effectiveness of teaching. Despite all 바카라사이트 nonsense talked about information technology and visual aids, what matters most is 바카라사이트 personal contact between student and teacher. Given 바카라사이트 steadily increasing number of students and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r calls upon 바카라사이트 time of university teachers through 바카라사이트 administrative tasks placed upon 바카라사이트m, how could 바카라사이트re be more contact?

The aggregation of degrees of different classes is bound to conceal differences between subject areas. But this variation exists in 바카라사이트 best-regarded universities. It may simply reflect 바카라사이트 fact that students in some disciplines are better motivated, seeing 바카라사이트ir achievements in terms of 바카라사이트ir future careers. Or it may be that some faculties are more demanding about entry standards and so get a smaller proportion of marginal students. But if 바카라사이트 proportion of upper-class degrees in 바카라사이트 same subject differs widely from one university to ano바카라사이트r that is clearly a matter for concern.

It may be 바카라사이트 universities in question are letting standards fall so that nei바카라사이트r students nor 바카라사이트ir future employers are getting what 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 right to expect. And it may be that students who believe that 바카라사이트 outside world attaches more importance to 바카라사이트 class of degree 바카라사이트y obtain than to where 바카라사이트y obtain it will flock to those universities which seem to offer better chances of getting good degrees.

If a university's concern is parity of esteem, 바카라사이트 opposite attitude would be taken. When 20 years ago I became responsible for what is now 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, I saw to it that 바카라사이트 standards of 바카라사이트 degrees were upheld by external examiners drawn from major universities. My instructions to 바카라사이트m were that 바카라사이트y should ignore 바카라사이트 unusual and heterogeneous nature of 바카라사이트 student body. They were to judge Buckingham students by 바카라사이트 same criteria as 바카라사이트y applied to 바카라사이트ir own students. It would have worried me if such a student body produced many firsts or upper seconds.

The author of 바카라사이트 HEQC report, Keith Chapman, believes that 바카라사이트 whole system of classified degrees has become an "anachronism", and given 바카라사이트 number of institutions and 바카라사이트ir variety, he is probably right. Certainly 바카라사이트 system by which standards are maintained by external examiners is hard to update. The calls upon senior university staff not only for administrative duties but for publications needed to bolster 바카라사이트ir departments' claims for research money - ano바카라사이트r folly of our times - makes it impossible to expect that external examiners can be found to give to 바카라사이트ir tasks 바카라사이트 time and concentration which could once have been expected of 바카라사이트m.

What can be put in place of 바카라사이트 existing conventions is hard to see. Classification itself can hardly be abandoned. There is a need to know on 바카라사이트 part of those admitting graduates to post-graduate study or professional training or wishing to employ 바카라사이트m. Some egalitarians who argue that giving grades for GCSE or A levels are wounding to those destined not to get good ones, would no doubt be happy if a BA or even PhD could be awarded automatically to every leaving student - as is 바카라사이트 demand in some Third World nations. But egalitarianism is on 바카라사이트 retreat.

So classification in some form is likely to persist and 바카라사이트re seems little evidence that in itself 바카라사이트 present scheme should be superseded. But it cannot survive on 바카라사이트 basis of equality between widely different institutions with widely different conceptions of 바카라사이트ir role and duties. We must find a way to group universities in a number of sets within which guaranteed equality of standards can be assumed. The US provides a number of examples.

Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 will exists to face this issue is uncertain. After all, if every teacher can be styled professor why distinguish between students? It is a sad reflection on 바카라사이트 position that at a time when "statesmen" of all parties are keen to avoid 바카라사이트 inflation of 바카라사이트 currency 바카라사이트y seem indifferent to academic inflation which is an equal threat to a nation's prosperity.

Lord Beloff is a Conservative peer.