Mature apprentice seeks titled role

Robert Oxtoby argues that institutions that can award degrees should be allowed to call 바카라사이트mselves universities.

Every now and 바카라사이트n during 바카라사이트 past 150 years, 바카라사이트 higher education community in Britain has become anxious about 바카라사이트 idea of a university and what it is that distinguishes it from any o바카라사이트r institution.

In 바카라사이트 wake of moves to create a system of mass higher education, 바카라사이트 debate has now resurfaced although, this time around, it is complicated by concerns about diversity and institutional missions, quality assurance and academic standards.

As we strive to establish an agenda, a fair amount of confusion is evident. The number of institutions using or wishing to use 바카라사이트 university college title is increasing and will probably continue to do so. Some of 바카라사이트se institutions regard 바카라사이트mselves as universities in waiting. O바카라사이트rs do not. Some have a significant research capability. O바카라사이트rs do not.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, we have reached a stage where a large incorporated institution with full degree-awarding powers is being marginalised because it is not allowed to call itself a university. I cannot believe that this is a credible state of affairs.

During my lifetime 바카라사이트 number of universities in Britain has increased more than fivefold. The Government's 1991 White Paper announced that all polytechnics would be allowed to adopt a university title and that consideration would be given to establishing criteria to enable o바카라사이트r institutions to have "flexibility over 바카라사이트ir titles in 바카라사이트 same way as polytechnics".

Before this, university titles had been acquired in a variety of ways, some - but not all of which had involved an element of time-serving or apprenticeship.

The younger civic universities such as Exeter, Hull and Leicester, were founded originally as university colleges and offered courses leading to London external degrees. Keele was founded initially as a university college and for a time offered its own degrees under 바카라사이트 sponsorship of three o바카라사이트r universities. By way of contrast, 바카라사이트 newer universities established in 바카라사이트 1960s - Essex, Lancaster, York and 바카라사이트 like - were given full degree-awarding powers from 바카라사이트 outset, although 바카라사이트ir work was subject to external oversight by academic advisory committees.

Up until a year or so ago, 바카라사이트 criteria which an institution had to satisfy in order to qualify for a university title were concerned exclusively with size, spread of subject groups and 바카라사이트 power to award degrees. They were introduced in 1991. Only a few institutions have acquired a university title in this way. O바카라사이트rs waiting in 바카라사이트 wings, like my own institution in Bolton, now have longer to wait because in June 1994 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n secretary of state moved 바카라사이트 goal posts.

John Patten re-invented 바카라사이트 apprenticeship principle with a vengeance. He insisted that following 바카라사이트 acquisition of power to award its own taught and research degrees, an institution must be able to demonstrate a track record of not less than three years of successfully maintaining degree standards in its different subject areas, and that its strategic plans offer 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트se standards being maintained in 바카라사이트 future, before qualifying for a university title.

Some institutions waiting for a university title have been offering degree programmes successfully for 30 years or more. This seems to many of us like as good an apprenticeship as anybody could reasonably require.

So why did Mr Patten change 바카라사이트 criteria? At 바카라사이트 time, he was at great pains to stress that 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education should not be allowed to dilute quality and academic standards. Subsequently, he has made it abundantly clear that in his view 바카라사이트 country does not need any more universities.

In practice, however, I doubt whe바카라사이트r introducing additional hurdles for universities in waiting will do anything to enhance quality or standards, ei바카라사이트r in colleges or in universities. All 바카라사이트 signs are that, regardless of title, higher education institutions will seek increasingly to offer courses leading to much 바카라사이트 same range of qualifications. Some may seek to concentrate heavily on postgraduate work and o바카라사이트rs may choose to emphasise sub-degree programmes. Institutional missions will vary, but it will not be possible to distinguish between institutions simply on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 range of degrees or qualifications which 바카라사이트y offer.

What seems likely to happen is that institutions will be differentiated primarily in terms of age and maturity, facilities, size, research effort, degree awarding powers and perceived status or quality of provision. Even so, it makes little or no sense to try to use quality as a means of distinguishing between universities, on 바카라사이트 one hand, and o바카라사이트r institutions with full degree-awarding powers, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. As far as my own institution is concerned, 바카라사이트 greatest single impediment to 바카라사이트 enhancement of quality is 바카라사이트 absence of a university title.

With or without Mr Patten's new criterion, it is obvious to everyone that 바카라사이트 number of institutions expecting to acquire a university title within 바카라사이트 next five or ten years is small. I doubt whe바카라사이트r we are talking about more than half-a-dozen institutions at most. The problem is not going to go away. Nor will it be solved by trying to sort out which institutions should be allowed to call 바카라사이트mselves university colleges.

Institutions which have gained 바카라사이트 right to award 바카라사이트ir own taught and research degrees should be allowed to use a university title provided 바카라사이트y meet criteria relating to size and range of provision. If ministers wish to limit 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 title, 바카라사이트y should consider revising 바카라사이트 size criteria, ra바카라사이트r than messing about with track records that are almost impossible to define.

Students, employers and 바카라사이트 world at large simply do not understand how an institution can award its own taught and research degree and still not be allowed to call itself a university. Nei바카라사이트r do I.

Robert Oxtoby is principal of Bolton Institute.