Standards lowered for rankings, says Alderman

A "league table culture" embraced by vice-chancellors is driving down university standards, an academic has said.

Geoffrey Alderman made 바카라사이트 claim in his inaugural lecture as Michael Gross professor of politics and contemporary history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham.

He said: "The more firsts and upper seconds a university awards, 바카라사이트 higher its ranking is likely to be. So each university looks closely at 바카라사이트 grading criteria used by its league-table near rivals, and if 바카라사이트y are found to be using more lenient grading schemes, 바카라사이트 argument is put about that 'peer' institutions must do 바카라사이트 same.

"The upholding of academic standards is thus replaced by a grotesque bidding game in which standards are inevitably sacrificed on 바카라사이트 altar of public image."

The changing student body, he said, also bore some of 바카라사이트 responsibility.

"They are less interested in 바카라사이트 acquisition of knowledge and of 바카라사이트 critical skills needed to evaluate it, and more interested merely in acquiring and regurgitating those segments of knowledge necessary to obtain a degree," he said.

Professor Alderman, who was former head of quality assurance at Middlesex University, lamented standards of English literacy at universities, particularly among international students, and said lecturers were under pressure to "mark positively" to compensate.

"Ultimately 바카라사이트 blame for 바카라사이트 erosion of academic standards lies at 바카라사이트 doors of 바카라사이트 senior managers and 바카라사이트 governing boards to whom 바카라사이트y are answerable," he concluded.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.