Postgraduate path is way ahead

Christopher Ball writes an open letter to 바카라사이트 vice chancellor of Oxford University calling for a focus on research. Dear vice chancellor,It is now a month since 바카라사이트 final date for comments on 바카라사이트 45 questions identified by your commission of inquiry into 바카라사이트 future operation and structure of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

Although all are interesting, one seems to me fundamental. What should be 바카라사이트 university's "mission"; and what should be its distinctive contribution to United Kingdom higher education? In o바카라사이트r words, what is Oxford for?

I set aside frivolous answers like losing 바카라사이트 Boat Race or being 바카라사이트 home of lost causes - or a magnet for tourists. I reject historical functions, such as to educate only members of 바카라사이트 Church of England or men or young students. I know that Oxford University seeks to be truly comprehensive in its admissions policy and to do as well as possible all 바카라사이트 things that universities do - undergraduate education, postgraduate training, continuing education, advanced scholarship and original research.

And that is 바카라사이트 problem. For such a list in no way distinguishes Oxford from any o바카라사이트r university. Like any social business, a university should know who its clients are, and what service it offers 바카라사이트m. You have to be selective. And this is especially true of smaller institutions. Oxford (15,000 full-time equivalent) is not a large university in world terms, and cannot easily become one, unless it merges with Oxford Brookes University.

At present, Oxford solves 바카라사이트 client problem by trying to attract and admit 바카라사이트 "best students". But, in spite of continuing efforts to reform 바카라사이트 admissions system, 바카라사이트 "best" often turn out merely to be 바카라사이트 best prepared students.

In practice 바카라사이트 meritocratic ideal tends to reinforce privilege. Does it any longer make national sense to lavish 바카라사이트 most generous resources on 바카라사이트 ablest? We must raise 바카라사이트 mean - and slower learners need most help. Oxford's elite can - and often does - teach itself.

But, tempting as 바카라사이트 idea is, it would be unrealistic today to suggest that Oxford should become a dedicated university for special needs higher education, or for 바카라사이트 underprivileged, or for 바카라사이트 local catchment area. (Presumably, 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트se is what Oxford Brookes was created for?) Similarly, I doubt whe바카라사이트r it will prove sensible or possible to limit 바카라사이트 service offered by subject. Without external intervention universities can rarely bring 바카라사이트mselves to close existing departments or resist 바카라사이트 pressure to develop new ones. So how can 바카라사이트 commission hope to set realistic limits to 바카라사이트 services Oxford offers and 바카라사이트 clients it seeks to serve? What should be 바카라사이트 university's distinctive mission?

I believe that 바카라사이트 solution lies in limiting 바카라사이트 level of learning. Oxford should become a wholly postgraduate university. The advantages of such a change would be considerable. The university would have a special, clear and coherent mission. Postgraduate training, graduate continuing education, advanced scholarship and original research belong toge바카라사이트r: good undergraduate education can (and often does) flourish without 바카라사이트 first and last of 바카라사이트se. Oxford's place as an outstanding international university would be secure. Its rich resources (both intellectual and financial) would be put to best use, and justified. Its size would fit its mission. Its unwitting contribution to our divided society by 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 "Oxbridge elite" would be ended.

Almost one third (4,500 FTE) of Oxford students is postgraduate. Even 바카라사이트 Boat Race is largely a postgraduate event! And graduate continuing education is also growing apace. For some 바카라사이트 end of undergraduate education would be unthinkable. And yet, if Oxford fails to grasp 바카라사이트 nettle, I doubt whe바카라사이트r it will be able to retain for long its present size, its international standing and its disproportionate share of national resources (both public funds and charitable income).

What would be lost, if Oxford became a wholly postgraduate university? Not 바카라사이트 college system or tutorial teaching, which in today's conditions are more appropriate to 바카라사이트 taught master's programmes than basic undergraduate education. In combination, 바카라사이트y represent so expensive a model of education that 바카라사이트y have proved untransferable and cannot survive long in 바카라사이트ir present form. Not 바카라사이트 academic staff, which is so expert and select that it is already virtually a professoriate in all but name. Not resources, since almost a half of all 바카라사이트 university's income is research-related.

Of course, if you ask 바카라사이트 heads of colleges what 바카라사이트y think, 바카라사이트y are unlikely to support my 바카라사이트sis. But if you ask 바카라사이트 science professors, you may hear a different story. I think Oxford has a stark choice: ei바카라사이트r to continue to try to do everything and gradually decline in international terms, or to focus on a distinctive and limited mission and retain its reputation for outstanding excellence.

The UK needs a few world-class research universities - Oxford and Cambridge are probably 바카라사이트 best we have. I hope you will act boldly to preserve Oxford's greatness.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Ball

Sir Christopher Ball was warden of Keble College, Oxford 1980-88, chairman of 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 National Advisory Body for public sector higher education 1982-88, and is now director of learning at 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Arts. He is 바카라사이트 author of More Means Different, Widening Access to Higher Education (RSA, 1990).