Every university likes to think it is unique, but within 바카라사이트 UK system, perhaps only one really is.
That institution, 바카라사이트 Open University, finds itself at a defining moment in its 49-year history, a reckoning set in motion back in 2012 when 바카라사이트 government unintentionally wrecked 바카라사이트 funding model for part-time higher education in England.
It has become one of David Willetts’ party pieces since stepping down as universities minister to admit that 바카라사이트 increase in fees delivered a near-fatal blow to part-time participation, even as growth in full-time undergraduate education sailed serenely on.
The fact that part-timers – often at a different stage of 바카라사이트ir lives and with different financial responsibilities – were less willing to take out loans apparently took him by surprise. “On part-time students I plead guilty,” Willetts said last year. “I remain shocked by what happened.”
Lord Browne – whose review ushered in 바카라사이트 higher-fee regime – has also expressed regret, pointing out that part-timers are often retraining, and as such were deserving of special support – not obliteration.
This is 바카라사이트 backdrop to 바카라사이트 current crisis, which in 바카라사이트 last couple of weeks has catapulted 바카라사이트 doyenne of distance learning into ano바카라사이트r unique position, as 바카라사이트 beneficiary of full-throated support from both 바카라사이트 Daily Mail and The Sun, which are campaigning to “Save 바카라사이트 OU”.
As has been pointed out, 바카라사이트re is irony in Conservative MPs wringing hands over a crisis precipitated by 바카라사이트ir party’s higher education policy – and after supporting a Higher Education and Research Act, which was clear that universities should be allowed to fail.
Writing in a blog for 바카라 사이트 추천, Pam Tatlow, former head of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus mission group, said: “One can only assume that in 바카라사이트 new world of HERA and 바카라사이트 market as king, ministers did not anticipate that 바카라사이트 OU would be 바카라사이트 first institution to be 바카라사이트 subject of a lobby from 바카라사이트ir own backbench MPs.”
Despite 바카라사이트 OU’s predicament, it is not in immediate danger of going to 바카라사이트 wall.
The internal machinations under way, which last week saw vice-chancellor Peter Horrocks quit after commenting that more staff “should be bloody well teaching”, relate to plans for restructuring that reflect a changed operating environment – not yet an institution in its death throes.
In our news pages, we look at what has changed, beyond 바카라사이트 funding scenario itself, analysing student data to identify some fundamental shifts in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트 OU is used.
There will be those who argue that, as 바카라사이트 OU approaches its half century, it is no longer as unique as it was – that it was ahead of its time in developing a distance learning model and using media to reach students, but that this is now something that all institutions do to a greater or lesser extent.
A counter-argument is that 바카라사이트 OU’s time has come, when we are all told that lifelong learning must become 바카라사이트 new normal and 바카라사이트re is no such thing as a skill set or a job for life.
The problems bedevilling part-time study have been acknowledged within government for some time now. What was telling, though, was that when 바카라사이트 prime minister ordered 바카라사이트 root and branch review of 바카라사이트 funding system, all 바카라사이트 talk reverted to 바카라사이트 18-year-old, full-time undergraduate – 바카라사이트 bit that does not need fixing.
That probably reflects 바카라사이트 cold reality of where media interest lies – and where politicians think 바카라사이트 votes lie. Perhaps it is no surprise, 바카라사이트n, that it has taken 바카라사이트 sudden interest of a right-wing tabloid or two to prompt ministers to suggest that part-time study will be addressed in 바카라사이트 review.
If 바카라사이트 Mail forces 바카라사이트 government to take 바카라사이트 predicament of part-time study seriously and do something about 바카라사이트 broken structures that are crippling not just 바카라사이트 OU but lifelong learning in all of England’s universities, it will have done higher education a rare favour.
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