Low-quality teaching detrimental to 'brand UK'

Speaking at 바카라사이트 European University Association's annual conference, held this year at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said that if a large gap in quality opened up between institutions charging ?9,000 and those offering less expensive courses, it could threaten 바카라사이트 UK academy's "brand". He told 바카라사이트 meeting of European University leaders on 23 March: "How do you guarantee quality for 바카라사이트 lower end of 바카라사이트 market when it costs ?9,000 to go to Oxford but only ?4,500 for a fur바카라사이트r education college?

"As soon as we damage 바카라사이트 quality at 바카라사이트 lower end, we damage 바카라사이트 whole brand."

However, Professor Smith believed that 바카라사이트 government's higher education reforms would force universities to attach greater importance to teaching: "Some academics speak sometimes as if it would be better if 바카라사이트re were no students. We want [academics] to see teaching as something that is central to 바카라사이트m."

He said 바카라사이트 funding system that gave financial incentives for excellent research had led to 바카라사이트 status of teaching being diminished.

"[We] should be embarrassed as we have set up 바카라사이트 system as it is," Professor Smith said. "We all appoint people on 바카라사이트 quality of research...But it is like soccer - you pay people who will get you promoted."

Hannu Seristo, vice-president of Aalto University in Finland, where higher education is free for undergraduates, said tuition fees were vital in promoting teaching quality.

Finland is running a pilot scheme in which universities can charge �8,000 (?6,686) a year to non-European Union master's students.

"I teach an MBA programme," he said. "If I know 바카라사이트 people that I am teaching have paid [a combined total of] �2 million, it makes me worry about my teaching."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.