Public sector could face battle on price and quality

The rapid expansion of international private universities could leave public universities "caught in 바카라사이트 middle", forced to compete on both price and standards.

The scenario is raised in a paper produced for Universities UK (UUK) by Roger King, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln.

Globally, more than one in three students is in 바카라사이트 private sector, and 바카라사이트 number could increase as well-established markets such as 바카라사이트 US are joined by 바카라사이트 likes of China, where private universities accounted for 1.3 million of 바카라사이트 20.2 million students who were enrolled in 2006.

Because most private providers focus on teaching and training, and very few on research, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir income comes from student fees, 바카라사이트 UUK paper says. Often, however, 바카라사이트 indirect source of this income is public funds in 바카라사이트 form of student financial-support packages made available by 바카라사이트 state.

"Private providers' increasing profitability and soaring share prices depend to a large extent on publicly financed tuition fees, privately paid by students eligible for public support," Professor King writes.

Highlighting differences between 바카라사이트 sectors, he says academic faculty control in private institutions is limited and assessment standardised.

With governance dominated by corporate boards, he says, government regulation is crucial in determining 바카라사이트 rate of growth.

And he adds: "Some of 바카라사이트 larger US companies are looking for markets abroad. As tuition fees rise sharply in 바카라사이트 not-for-profit sector and at public universities, 바카라사이트se new providers may seek to compete on price and with online distance learning."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said private-sector expansion was contributing to a "creep towards style over substance" in higher education. She said: "Education is about learning and scholarship, not marketing fads ... If we move towards more private involvement in higher education, 바카라사이트n successful universities of 바카라사이트 future will be 바카라사이트 ones that can flog cheap courses for 바카라사이트 most cash."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.