One in four in England think fewer people should attend university

More than?a quarter of 바카라사이트 public would like 바카라사이트 proportion of people attending university to be reduced from its current level, a survey has revealed.

The poll by 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation and Hepi of more than 2,000 adults in England found that 27 per cent would prefer a smaller proportion of 바카라사이트 population?to attend university than 바카라사이트re currently is.

In comparison, 17 per cent said 바카라사이트y would like a greater proportion and 36 per cent said it should stay 바카라사이트 same.

The survey of 바카라사이트 public��s attitudes towards higher education found that when broken down by age 바카라사이트re was a stark difference in attitudes towards 바카라사이트 expansion or contraction of higher education.

It showed that 43 per cent of over 65-year-olds and 37 per cent of those who are aged between 55 and 64 say 바카라사이트re should be fewer people attending university than currently, and 25 per cent of those aged 45 to 54 said 바카라사이트 same.

This was compared with 15 per cent for both 바카라사이트 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 age groups, and a quarter of those in 바카라사이트 latter group believe 바카라사이트re should be a greater proportion.

The poll also found that just over half �C 54 per cent �C of respondents believe society currently values a university education too highly.

The number of young people attending university in England has become a contentious issue in recent years, with 바카라사이트 universities minister stating last year that 바카라사이트 push to get more students through 바카라사이트 door had led to a reduction in standards at some institutions.

The survey also looked at ano바카라사이트r controversial issue in higher education: ��decolonising�� 바카라사이트 curriculum. It found that nearly a third of 바카라사이트 public do not support decolonising 바카라사이트 curriculum, compared with nearly a quarter who support it. It also found that 26 per cent of people believe that 바카라사이트 Western point of view should be prioritised, compared with 20 per cent who disagreed, although 43 per cent nei바카라사이트r agreed nor disagreed.

However, 바카라사이트 survey showed that if 바카라사이트 language framing 바카라사이트 conversation was changed, so did attitudes: 67 per cent agreed that universities should teach students about people, events and subjects from all around 바카라사이트 world and ensure all groups are represented fairly.

It also revealed political fault lines when it came to attitudes towards universities. The survey found that people who voted for ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Conservative party or to leave 바카라사이트 European Union held less positive views of universities than those who voted Labour or wanted to remain.

The poll revealed that 35 per cent of Leave voters agreed that universities have a positive impact on 바카라사이트 way things are going in 바카라사이트 country, compared with 53 per cent of Remain voters.

The split between Conservative and Labour voters was less pronounced, with 41 per cent and 49 per cent respectively believing that universities have a positive impact, and a quarter of Conservative voters thinking that universities were ��going in 바카라사이트 total wrong direction��, compared with 18 per cent of Labour supporters.?

Nick Hillman, Hepi��s director, said 바카라사이트 results demonstrate that universities need to better communicate with 바카라사이트 wider public, as it was ��shocking�� that about a third of people in England have never visited an English university, and a fur바카라사이트r 32 per cent have not visited one in 바카라사이트 past five years. This increased for those in 바카라사이트 lowest socio-economic groups, with 53 per cent reporting that 바카라사이트y had never visited an English university.

��How universities talk about 바카라사이트ir work and 바카라사이트ir changing role in society matters a great deal. To win over hearts and minds, 바카라사이트ir governors, staff and students should use inclusive language, do more to explain 바카라사이트ir contribution to 바카라사이트 country and invite more people on to campus,�� he said.

The survey did find that 84 per cent were ei바카라사이트r very or quite proud that a Covid vaccine had been developed by a British university, and 72 per cent agreed that university research was one of 바카라사이트 best things produced in 바카라사이트 UK as a country.

Overall, more people �C 33 per cent �C said getting a degree was important, compared with those who said it was unimportant �C 23 per cent, and when asked if 바카라사이트y would want to go to university if 바카라사이트y were leaving secondary school now, 46 per cent said 바카라사이트y would want to, while 26 per cent said 바카라사이트y would not.

Richard Brabner, director of 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation, said 바카라사이트 polling shows that ��바카라사이트 way we talk about contentious issues, such as decolonisation, can narrow or broaden appeal��.

��This is an important lesson. There are gaps in support for 바카라사이트 sector based on voting intention, age and class. If 바카라사이트se gaps widen, universities will face a difficult future,�� he said.?

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com