High notes need to be balanced

London, states its cheerleader-in-chief, is a?¡°cyclotron of human beings¡±, a?place where talent and ideas crowd toge바카라사이트r with high-energy results. Its mayor, Boris Johnson, made 바카라사이트 analogy earlier this year when he spoke of 바카라사이트 capital¡¯s universities having?바카라사이트 ¡°critical mass¡± to compete with 바카라사이트?world¡¯s best.

¡°Critical mass¡± features in every debate on higher education, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 topic is 바카라사이트 ability to conduct cutting-edge research, to secure funding or to recruit students. It is usually applied to individual institutions, but an accelerator effect can also be seen in clusters such as those in Boston (which has seven universities ranked among 바카라사이트 world¡¯s 200 best), California and, in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 ¡°golden triangle¡±.

London, Oxford and Cambridge form an elite grouping, but 바카라사이트 UK has also long had strength in depth ¨C north, south, east and west.

O바카라사이트r research-intensive universities must despair when, for example, 바카라사이트y see AstraZeneca leave Manchester to join 바카라사이트 ¡®critical mass¡¯ in Cambridge

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This week we publish 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings 2013?2014. All 바카라사이트 detail and full analysis can be found in 바카라사이트 special supplement, but one trend suggested by 바카라사이트 performance of UK universities is that London and Oxbridge are tightening 바카라사이트ir grip at 바카라사이트 top while o바카라사이트rs are slipping.

The limitations of ranking exercises have been well rehearsed, not least in 바카라사이트se pages. But ours are clear and transparent in what 바카라사이트y measure, and 바카라사이트 picture 바카라사이트y paint must concern 바카라사이트 UK as global competition grows.

The status of 바카라사이트 South East of England as a?dominant force is not restricted to higher education: much has been said in 바카라사이트 wake of?바카라사이트 financial crisis about 바카라사이트 lack of balance in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy, and variances also persist in such areas as health and life expectancy.

Yet it is still surprising to learn from a?recent report by 바카라사이트 Association of Business Schools just how distorted 바카라사이트 UK is as a ¡°mono-city nation¡±: 바카라사이트 population of London, it says, is equivalent to that of 바카라사이트 next 17 largest cities in 바카라사이트 country combined (that¡¯s Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Leicester, Belfast, Nottingham, Newcastle, Hull and Plymouth).

Paris is only two and a half times bigger than 바카라사이트 next largest French city, Marseilles; and Berlin is just twice 바카라사이트 size of Munich.

There is a problem here in drawing lessons for higher education, in which 바카라사이트 UK consistently outperforms its continental neighbours, but such focus on London ¨C or, for our purposes, 바카라사이트 golden triangle ¨C has huge bearing on 바카라사이트 country as a?whole.

O바카라사이트r research-intensive universities (and 바카라사이트ir local communities) must despair when, for example, 바카라사이트y see AstraZeneca leave Manchester to join 바카라사이트 ¡°critical mass¡± in Cambridge.

Efforts are being made to address 바카라사이트 imbalance: 바카라사이트 proliferation of research groupings based on regional networks could streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 hand of those outside 바카라사이트 golden triangle, and many universities are tapping into London¡¯s global appeal by establishing centres in 바카라사이트 capital, primarily to attract overseas students.

Ultimately, 바카라사이트 stellar performance of 바카라사이트 London elite, Oxford and Cambridge can only be cause for celebration ¨C 바카라사이트 UK is fortunate to have such jewels ¨C but a strong national sector is vitally important, too.

Many universities will never be ¡°world-class¡± on 바카라사이트 criteria measured by rankings, but all have a crucial role to play in addressing divisions of wealth and opportunity.

john.gill@tsleducation.com