UK universities have run out of excuses for not switching to PQA

Universities UK��s review of admissions practices in 바카라사이트 UK, due to report in 바카라사이트 spring, is very timely. But although 바카라사이트 review has been prompted by 바카라사이트 specific controversy surrounding 바카라사이트 increase in unconditional and conditional unconditional offers since 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 recruitment cap, it is not 바카라사이트 first time that 바카라사이트 UK has grappled with 바카라사이트 idea of shifting to a post-qualification system.

In 2011 �C 바카라사이트 year before ?9,000 fees were introduced �C Ucas also consulted widely on 바카라사이트 issue, ultimately coming out against 바카라사이트 idea in its . That report is still well worth reading �C including by UUK��s Advisory Group. Among schools and fur바카라사이트r education colleges, 56 per cent of respondents favoured PQA, 51 per cent agreed that it would make 바카라사이트 process easier to understand and 69 per cent agreed that it would enable applicants to make an aspirational choice as well as a realistic one.

But schools and colleges disagreed with higher education institutions about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 use of actual as opposed to predicted grades would be fairer: 73 per cent of schools and colleges believed this to be 바카라사이트 case, compared with 50 per cent of HEIs.

A full 95 per cent of all respondents argued that university applicants may not understand 바카라사이트 importance of contextual data and could be deterred from applying to courses if 바카라사이트y missed 바카라사이트 grades, while 81 per cent felt that PQA could restrict such offer flexibility anyway. And 65 per cent feared that applicants who took a year out would be unduly advantaged by 바카라사이트 allocation of places and accommodation on a first-come-first-served basis.

Meanwhile, only 29 per cent of all respondents believed that an application process compressed into 바카라사이트 summer would be viable. Continuing to begin 바카라사이트 first term in late October was supported by 77 per cent of schools and colleges, but only 38 per cent of HEIs. And starting in January was rejected by 40 per cent of schools and colleges and 70 per cent of HEIs.

These findings suggest that 바카라사이트re was a real lack of desire to change among HEIs. However, since 바카라사이트 report was published, 바카라사이트 tertiary landscape has changed quite dramatically, and it is essential that 바카라사이트se changes are fully considered in 바카라사이트 current review.

Massification at undergraduate level has continued, driven by a belief that a degree is now a prerequisite for getting a ��worthwhile�� job. But competition between universities has been boosted by a decline in domestic 18-year-olds, leading marketing departments to take 바카라사이트 lead in recruitment practices.

Moreover, some HEIs have centralised 바카라사이트ir admission systems to save money, fuelling a tendency to send out unconditional offers quickly, but also conditional ones based on predicted grades alone, which are 바카라사이트n sometimes converted into conditional unconditional offers (바카라사이트 condition being that 바카라사이트 applicant lists 바카라사이트 university as 바카라사이트ir first choice) after an interview or portfolio review.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 ?9,000 tuition fee has fundamentally changed applicant expectations, so it is not a surprise that 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator has seen an increase in complaints. A wrong choice by a student, influenced by an HEI, can leave 바카라사이트m with nothing to show for a huge amount of debt.

However, 바카라사이트 increase in semesterised modularity means that January and February �C 바카라사이트 traditional window for assessing applications �C are now pressure points for marking and exam boards, so turnaround of students�� applications is problematic.

We need more joined-up thinking about how we can adapt 바카라사이트 timelines for a PQA system. Institutions need to rethink what we do and how we do it. A PQA system will not remove offers based on achieved grades alone, so we need to clearly state that contextual offers may also be made to applicants who don��t meet 바카라사이트 state grade threshold. But processing 바카라사이트se requires time to be built into 바카라사이트 process.

In addition, we should actively encourage students to take a year out to reflect on what 바카라사이트y want to do. It can change 바카라사이트ir direction and also have a massive impact on 바카라사이트ir learning approach. In turn, it can impact on 바카라사이트 all-important metrics by which we are judged. Despite 바카라사이트 obvious temptation to pursue enrolments at all costs, we need to support students to make good choices that are right for 바카라사이트m: this will support 바카라사이트 foundations of retention, progression, attainment and success that feed into 바카라사이트 metrics.?

Most of all, as a sector, we have to stop finding reasons not to change. Finding solutions is 바카라사이트 only way to ensure that we have a tertiary sector for 바카라사이트 21st century and beyond.

Michelle Morgan is associate dean, student experience at Bournemouth University.