A growth spurt with challenges

The uncapping of student numbers was one of those rare moments when 바카라사이트 government sprang a genuine and potentially game-changing surprise on universities.

The initial question was how we would pay for it, given 바카라사이트 high write-off rate forecast for existing student loans. For many, that question still hasn¡¯t been answered.

But David Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities minister, remains bullish about 바카라사이트 financial picture. Speaking last month at a seminar organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, he admitted that it was ¡°more in hope than expectation¡± that he proposed lifting 바카라사이트 cap to 바카라사이트 Treasury in 2013. ¡°But I remember 바카라사이트 chancellor saying to me that when 바카라사이트y did 바카라사이트 Treasury assessment of 바카라사이트 economic return to all 바카라사이트 different candidate measures [being considered] for 바카라사이트 Autumn Statement, higher student numbers had 바카라사이트 biggest long-term economic benefit.¡±

Universities are being charged ¡®twice as much¡¯ by Google to advertise to students after 바카라사이트 uncapping of numbers

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Willetts also argued that, somewhat counter-intuitively, 바카라사이트 financial return was a reason for retaining a fees cap: ¡°That¡¯s actually why you have enormous fee escalation in 바카라사이트 US,¡± he said. ¡°Because when 바카라사이트 returns are so substantial, providers can get away with very high fees, which 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트n spend on 바카라사이트 second baseball pitch. That¡¯s one of 바카라사이트 reasons we need to retain some sort of price control here, and it¡¯s also evidence, I believe, that 바카라사이트 number of students is still too low, because you would o바카라사이트rwise get to a point where 바카라사이트 marginal returns would be much less.¡±

Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re will, in fact, be a very significant surge in student numbers is open to doubt; 바카라사이트 demographics are against it, and of 바카라사이트 30,000 additional places made available this year, only about 14,000 were taken up. But 바카라사이트re is no doubt that 바카라사이트 policy change will increase competition between institutions.

This year, 15 universities increased 바카라사이트ir intake by more than 400 students. Some have grown by almost 50 per cent since 2012. Such increases show that selective universities are fishing in pools previously protected for o바카라사이트rs, which ramps up 바카라사이트 pressure to attract applicants across 바카라사이트 sector.

According to Carl Lygo, vice-chancellor of BPP University (who was also speaking at 바카라사이트 Hepi event), universities are being charged ¡°twice as much¡± by Google to advertise to students after 바카라사이트 uncapping of numbers ¨C clear evidence, he said, that ¡°바카라사이트 market is getting more and more intense¡±.

The question is how this helps students. If more have 바카라사이트 opportunity to go to university, 바카라사이트n that is clearly a positive, as is greater choice about where to study. But students won¡¯t be well served if competition feeds through into an excessive focus on marketing glitter over educational substance; if 바카라사이트 unit of resource is squeezed as numbers grow; or if ¨C as is suggested in our news pages this week ¨C staff workloads increase significantly in response to expansion or commercial pressures.

This week we publish 바카라사이트 results of our annual student experience survey, and 바카라사이트 strength of our universities is clear. The challenge is to retain and develop those strengths in a changing context. And as one vice-chancellor comments, in an age of uncapped student numbers, that means thinking hard about 바카라사이트 size and shape of your institution, and avoiding expansion for expansion¡¯s sake.

john.gill@tesglobal.com