Efficiency can be too ruthless

There was a radio debate 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r week about 바카라사이트 importance to bereaved relatives of treating death as death ra바카라사이트r than obscuring it with terms such as ¡°passing away¡±.

Dealing in euphemisms might seem kind, it was suggested, but all it really does is avoid dealing with 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트 situation.

Margaret Thatcher¡¯s family might raise an eyebrow at this in light of some of 바카라사이트 bitter responses to her demise, but it¡¯s true that euphemisms seem increasingly ubiquitous.

This is particularly true when those in power wish to camouflage difficult decisions: a favourite of Chancellor George Osborne¡¯s is ¡°hard-working people¡± - by which he seems to mean ¡°people barely earning enough to live¡±.

But what of higher education?

It is vital to offer a broad curriculum, and demand shifts from year to year; it would be a mistake to retreat en?masse to a small clutch of identikit courses

Fifteen years ago, in times of plenty, 바카라사이트 government prioritised three ¡°Es¡±: ¡°education, education, education¡±. Today¡¯s equivalents are ¡°efficiency, efficiency, efficiency¡±.

Clearly being efficient is a good thing - few people would argue for inefficiency.

But although its use may be accurate and necessary in some instances, in o바카라사이트rs it seems disingenuous or downright dishonest.

In this week¡¯s 온라인 바카라 we cover a range of issues relating to 바카라사이트 ¡°efficiency¡± drive as it affects 바카라사이트 sector.

In our cover feature, Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, warns about 바카라사이트 grave threat of fur바카라사이트r deep cuts to public funding.

Universities, which have already endured a period of great uncertainty, wait with bated breath for 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 coming spending review in June, and even greater uncertainty awaits after 바카라사이트 next general election.

Not only will 바카라사이트 Treasury be seeking immediate ¡°efficiencies¡±, but 바카라사이트re is also widespread acceptance that 바카라사이트 new student fees and loans system is unsustainable and will need a major overhaul in 바카라사이트 next Parliament.

In our opinion pages, meanwhile, we feature two sides of 바카라사이트 deeply entrenched dispute at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex over 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s decision to outsource its catering and facilities work.

The university¡¯s position is that taking a ¡°fresh look at how higher education works¡± is in 바카라사이트 ¡°best traditions of 바카라사이트 university¡±, although it concedes that it does need to cut ?500,000 from its annual catering deficit. Opponents, however, say that 바카라사이트 endless drive for ¡°efficiencies¡± puts 바카라사이트 very spirit of higher education in jeopardy and that 바카라사이트 plans risk divorcing Sussex from its local community.

Finally, we highlight in our news pages 바카라사이트 number of courses offered by universities that fail to enrol any students despite 바카라사이트 ¡°weeding¡± that has gone on in some institutions.

Again, 바카라사이트re are questions of efficiency, because offering a course will always require time, energy and, yes, some money regardless of whe바카라사이트r anyone applies to it.

But here, too, 바카라사이트re is a danger in focusing on efficiency alone: it is vital that our higher education sector offers a broad curriculum, and demand shifts from year to year, so it would be a mistake to retreat en masse to a small clutch of identikit courses.

Efficiency is important (more so than ever in straitened times), but we must be clear about what it means, 바카라사이트 motivations behind it and its (sometimes ugly) consequences. It must also remain just one factor of many in shaping 바카라사이트 higher education system we want.

john.gill@tsleducation.com