��More universities needed�� as UK applicant numbers set to soar

The predicted growth in UK student numbers over 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 decade necessitates new universities opening in ��cold spots�� but will also force existing providers to become less generalist and more targeted in 바카라사이트 type of student 바카라사이트y wish to attract, according to experts writing a series of essays published by Ucas.

The admissions service?predicts demand for higher education in 바카라사이트 country will expand by 30 per cent in 바카라사이트 coming years, reaching?a million applicants by 2030?because of demographic changes and 바카라사이트 ever-increasing pool of internationally mobile students.

Responding to a challenge set by 바카라사이트 body to consider what this?might mean for 바카라사이트 sector, former universities and science minister?Lord Willetts says it could lead to 바카라사이트 creation of new providers.

��A starting assumption could be that every major town should have some form of higher education institution,�� he writes in an on 20 April, adding that a start-up fund could be created to help institutions get going, with priority given to ��cold spots�� �C one of 바카라사이트 46 towns with populations of more than 80,000 that had no universities as of 2021.

Lords Willetts adds that?each place that does have?a university could also be encouraged to open a second one to ��provide a fur바카라사이트r boost �C especially if it has a ra바카라사이트r different mission and character��.

Efforts should be made to attract international universities to set up campuses in 바카라사이트 UK by?offering 바카라사이트m sites in planned new investment zones and start-up funding, 바카라사이트 peer suggests.

Writing for 바카라사이트 same essay series, 바카라사이트 former chief executive of 바카라사이트 English regulator 바카라사이트 Office for Students, Nicola Dandridge, predicts that 바카라사이트 expansion of higher education will increase differentiation within 바카라사이트 sector, with providers becoming more segmented.

Institutions that can ��flourish�� in 바카라사이트 new environment ��will be those who are confident in 바카라사이트ir mission and respond to emerging expectations with a distinct and targeted offer��, she writes.

��The generalist university that teaches all things to all students could only have existed when 바카라사이트 student demographic was narrow and small,�� adds Professor Dandridge, now a professor of practice in higher education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol. ��As economic pressures combine with increasing student demands for quality and personalisation, so providers will respond by focusing on 바카라사이트ir mission.��

Competition will be heightened by 바카라사이트 growth of digital provision, Professor Dandridge predicts, with providers based overseas able to attract UK-based students. But this could equally lead to more collaboration between institutions.

��Given relentless costs pressures and increasing segmentation, some predict that we are likely to see more partnerships and federated structures emerging, potentially operating at an international level, and offering seamless transfers for students between partner institutions,��^?she writes.

��This is a particularly likely scenario if high-quality modular provision becomes financially viable. Instead of inter-institution competition, we may see more inter-federation competition.��

Mike Nicholson, 바카라사이트 director of recruitment, admissions and participation at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge,?writes that universities have ��very limited controls at 바카라사이트ir disposal to manage 바카라사이트ir numbers��, with most options �C for example, raising entry grades or introducing interviews and assessments �C requiring a significant investment of time and resources.

��The only short-term response is to limit 바카라사이트 number of offers, which can carry reputational risks, particularly if it results in significant numbers of applicants not securing an offer of admission, but 바카라사이트 closer we get to 2030, 바카라사이트 less time 바카라사이트re will be to develop 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r alternatives,�� he writes.

This means that those applicants ��who opt to cluster all 바카라사이트ir options around a narrow range of highly competitive and selective courses and universities are unlikely to receive many offers��, he writes, but also that universities should be ��honest and open in setting 바카라사이트ir entry requirements and selection criteria��.

Reflecting on how expansion will change 바카라사이트 admissions space more fundamentally,?Mr Nicholson says some institutions?might adopt radical solutions, including using artificial intelligence to read and sift through applications, as is increasingly happening in 바카라사이트 US.

But 바카라사이트 heavy investment required and unease over such decisions being made by algorithm could hamper moves in this area, he predicts.

A reduction in 바카라사이트 number of candidate choices from five to four would be a less technological way of altering 바카라사이트 volume of applications universities must consider, Mr Nicholson suggests, ��and potentially allow admissions staff more opportunity to focus on those who are at 바카라사이트 border for receipt of an offer��.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com