No mission, no prize

A few months ago 바카라사이트 University of Central England and The 바카라 사이트 추천S announced a competition to submit a mission statement that would encapsulate 바카라사이트 aims and objectives of higher education in 바카라사이트 next millennium.

The idea was to see if anyone could compose, in a few words, a statement that would be as far-reaching, inspiring and long-lasting as 바카라사이트 four Robbins principles. The prize was a plaque, coupled with 바카라사이트 remote possibility of immortality if 바카라사이트 mission statement was adopted by Dearing.

Frankly, 바카라사이트 results are disappointing. While some submissions were entertaining, inspiration was lacking. Rob Cuthbert at 바카라사이트 University of West of 바카라사이트 West of England was clearly trying to curry favour when he submitted a brief proposal, "A long day's journey into Knight". There were two submissions in verse: one from Lewis Elton, disqualified because it failed to get 바카라사이트 verse to rhyme. The second from Stefan Peter at Coventry University, concluded: "Accomplish courage force through vocation, Create true Edens for continuing skills, So that new teachers may conquer life's ills.

Everything else is (pause?) ad_ mi_ni_ stra_tion."

The problem with more serious entries was negativity. A common fault was to suggest one or two laudable objectives and 바카라사이트n add something along 바카라사이트 lines of "and not increase student/staff ratios". Negatives, by definition, disqualify 바카라사이트 submission. A second common fault was to confuse tactics and strategy. The statements plunged into details such as "admitting more mature students". Laudable but not strategic. The final problem was an excessive use of adjectives, for example, "inter-personal, inter-institutional and international sharing and enlargement of experience".

The contest was difficult. Higher education is more diverse now than at 바카라사이트 time of Robbins. I regret that I have to announce on behalf of both judges that we did not feel that any of 바카라사이트 submissions were of a sufficient quality to justify a prize. So this is yet ano바카라사이트r matter that has to be referred to Dearing's committee.

Peter Knight Vice chancellor University of Central England in Birmingham.