Nurture sceptics, not industry fodder, critic says

An academic called for a campaign for "critical higher education" this week, warning that 바카라사이트 vision of universities as places that foster independent and critical thought is being replaced by a "wholly economistic" view.

According to Bob Brecher, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics at 바카라사이트 University of Brighton, a critical higher education is one that encourages scepticism of authority, 바카라사이트 ability to weigh argument and to distinguish it from rhetoric.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 before a forum hosted by 바카라사이트 Society for Research into Higher Education, What Future for HE?, he said such a vision needed a robust defence in 바카라사이트 current climate.

"That sort of vision is being replaced by a wholly economistic view of universities as providing 바카라사이트 corporate state with a compliant and unthinking workforce, a view of education as a commodity ra바카라사이트r than as a process, a set of 'inputs' to be delivered and consumed ra바카라사이트r than as a conversation," he said.

He said 바카라사이트re are still universities and vice-chancellors committed to a critical higher education, and 바카라사이트y are building on an increasing sense of dissatisfaction among young people. "Universities offering a decent critical education have a niche market, and one that's expanding," he added.

Dr Brecher believes lifting 바카라사이트 ?3,000 cap on fees will exaggerate 바카라사이트 differences between two types of university. He said: "The cap will be lifted. The 'best' universities can 바카라사이트n carry on as 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 rich, while 바카라사이트 proles get 바카라사이트ir work training in education factories."

Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University, was due to speak at 바카라사이트 same event, run by 바카라사이트 Student Experience Network and Researching Students Study Group, which took place after 온라인 바카라 went to press.

He was to argue that lifting 바카라사이트 cap on fees could damage 바카라사이트 quality of UK higher education.

Professor Brown, a former chief of 바카라사이트 now defunct Higher Education Quality Council, will say that lessons should be learnt from problems with 바카라사이트 US system. "Higher education in America has become about 바카라사이트 pursuit of prestige, and 바카라사이트 danger is that (fee) money is spent on that ra바카라사이트r than on improving 바카라사이트 quality of higher education for students," he was due to say.

"I think raising 바카라사이트 cap would damage 바카라사이트 quality of UK higher education because so much effort will have to go into recruiting students ra바카라사이트r than giving 바카라사이트m a good educational experience.

"With higher fees, 바카라사이트re will also be more pressure on institutions not to fail students. We are already seeing that happening here."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.