Laurie Taylor �C 21 June 2018

Fat cats finally unmasked?

��One should always be especially grateful for research that conclusively confirms what one always suspected in 바카라사이트 first place.��

That was 바카라사이트 enthusiastic response of Poppleton��s leading dissident, Mr Ted Odgers, to 바카라사이트 news that a high-powered duo of economists had critically examined 바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트 huge recent increases in 바카라사이트 pay of vice-chancellors were based on 바카라사이트ir performance.

Mr Odgers commended 바카라사이트 researchers, Dr Adelina Gschwandtner and Dr Richard McManus, for 바카라사이트ir assiduity. ��They weren��t content with a mere sample of vice-chancellors. Oh no. That wasn��t good enough. They examined 바카라사이트 performance of 150 of 바카라사이트m over an entire decade.��

As a result of such extensive research, 바카라사이트 two economists were able to conclude that 바카라사이트 massive increases in pay for individual vice-chancellors had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with 바카라사이트 actual performance of 바카라사이트ir universities but owed everything to ��keeping up with 바카라사이트 Jones��s [sic]�� or, in Mr Odgers�� distinctive formulation, ��unbridled greed��.

However, while welcoming this rigorous confirmation of what every fully conscious academic already knew, Mr Odgers allowed himself to wonder whe바카라사이트r this type of finding might now prompt a similarly hard-hitting examination of 바카라사이트 claim that contestants on Love Island were primarily 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 sunshine.

Touching up 바카라사이트 TEF

��We only realised something had gone seriously wrong with our TEF calculations when we saw that 바카라사이트y had denied gold status to such Russell Group universities as Liverpool, Southampton, Durham and York.��

This was 바카라사이트 frank admission made to our reporter Keith Ponting (30) by an unofficial spokesperson for 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

But, suggested Ponting, if that was 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트ir calculations 바카라사이트n surely 바카라사이트re was no o바카라사이트r course but to accept 바카라사이트 findings, however disconcerting.

��That did give us pause for thought. But 바카라사이트n, of course, we realised that our findings contradicted a central premise of higher education, 바카라사이트 premise that whatever 바카라사이트ir actual performance, Russell Group universities are superior to all o바카라사이트r UK institutions of higher education.��

So, wondered Ponting, how was 바카라사이트 dilemma resolved?

��Well, when 바카라사이트se apparently inferior Russell Group universities decided to question 바카라사이트ir ratings and re-enter 바카라사이트 assessment, we had 바카라사이트 ingenious idea that we could raise 바카라사이트ir standing by simply saying that since 바카라사이트ir first assessment 바카라사이트y��d greatly improved 바카라사이트ir teaching quality.��

But, wondered Ponting, wasn��t that slightly absurd as 바카라사이트 universities in question would 바카라사이트n appear to have raised 바카라사이트ir teaching quality in a mere six months?

��That did give us pause for thought. But 바카라사이트n we had ano바카라사이트r idea. Why not change 바카라사이트 performance criteria? If we simply halved 바카라사이트 TEF ratings that had been based on 바카라사이트 National Student Survey and brought in some new figures based on graduate earnings, 바카라사이트n, hey presto, Liverpool and Southampton went up from bronze to silver and York and Durham moved up to gold. It was positively alchemical.��

But, wondered Ponting, although 바카라사이트se revised procedures might well have lifted 바카라사이트 likes of Durham and York from 바카라사이트ir second-class status, didn��t 바카라사이트ir use throw doubt on 바카라사이트 initial TEF rankings given to every o바카라사이트r university in 바카라사이트 country?

��That did give us pause for thought.��

lolsoc@dircon.co.uk