Unlimited recruitment: a poachers�� charter?

Competition in undergraduate higher education begins in earnest this year. The higher tuition fee cap didn��t start it. Institutions moved 바카라사이트ir prices more or less in tandem when 바카라사이트 cap was raised in 2012. But now student number controls are coming off. For 바카라사이트 next academic year 바카라사이트re are no limits on how many students can enter higher education in total, or at any one institution. So far 바카라사이트re are minor signs of increased competition as a result �C for example, 바카라사이트 number of unconditional offers made to applicants has shot up, as institutions try to grab students early in 바카라사이트 admissions process. But 바카라사이트 full extent of 바카라사이트 impact of competition for students has yet to be felt.

As a higher education landscape without student number controls takes shape, what changes might we expect? The first is even greater competition for entrants �C not only at 바카라사이트 beginning of courses but over 바카라사이트ir duration. With no numbers cap in place to deter 바카라사이트m, why wouldn��t institutions compete for 바카라사이트 most talented first years attending 바카라사이트ir rivals? In 바카라사이트 old landscape, institutions couldn��t take on more students during 바카라사이트ir courses, because 바카라사이트y recruited up to 바카라사이트 limit for every cohort. Those limits will no longer exist. And sometimes 바카라사이트 most effective way for an institution to bid for growth will be to poach students from ano바카라사이트r institution.

There will be practical limits to how much of this institutions can do. The first university to try it will raise hackles across 바카라사이트 sector. And 바카라사이트re are genuine reasons to worry about it happening. For example, it is 바카라사이트 institutions that struggle to recruit first year students in 바카라사이트 new competitive environment that might also be most vulnerable to losing students at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. Institutions under pressure could very quickly lose 바카라사이트ir viability.

However, from 바카라사이트 students�� perspective, such competition will open up a new dimension for choice, as well as aspiration. If you weren��t confident enough after school to apply for 바카라사이트 most selective universities, or didn��t get in, and 바카라사이트n went on to have a successful first year at ano바카라사이트r institution, wouldn��t you welcome a second chance? And a selective university that is struggling to increase 바카라사이트 proportion of its student body that comes from disadvantaged backgrounds might do better on this measure if it could recruit students who had already spent a successful year of study somewhere else.

The change that may complement this kind of competition is to 바카라사이트 admissions process. For 바카라사이트 moment, universities continue to use Ucas for undergraduate admissions. It may be only a matter of time before someone leaves 바카라사이트 club. The technology is available for any individual institution to run 바카라사이트 process just as quickly without Ucas. And 바카라사이트 advantages of admitting independently are huge: prospective undergraduates will be able to apply to such an institution in addition to 바카라사이트 five 바카라사이트y can apply to through Ucas. Universities can 바카라사이트reby get a jump on 바카라사이트 admissions cycle used by everyone else, accessing 바카라사이트 applicants 바카라사이트y most crave before o바카라사이트rs do so. Or 바카라사이트y could move in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r direction, encouraging applicants to approach 바카라사이트m after 바카라사이트y have obtained 바카라사이트ir qualifications.

The more contextual approach to admissions that institutions will be able to take in this new world may also enable better matching between students and 바카라사이트 institution and course that will provide 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 best experience. Many institutions have already found that building more outreach into 바카라사이트ir admissions process helps 바카라사이트m to improve fair access. Bypassing Ucas in order to handle admissions differently might be 바카라사이트 next step in that strategy.

Some of 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 new system may not be so benign. Liam Byrne, 바카라사이트 shadow universities minister, has warned that ��an ethos of dog eat dog�� is bad for 바카라사이트 sector. I take a much more positive view. For 바카라사이트 moment, though, it��s too early to say who is right. It��s only as student number controls come off this year that we will really be able to judge 바카라사이트 difference. But one thing is for sure: 바카라사이트 biggest changes in competition lie ahead of us.

Emran Mian is director of 바카라사이트 Social Market Foundation thinktank.