Leader: Few tidings of comfort and joy

¡®Twas 바카라사이트 night before Christmas, and all through 바카라사이트 house, not a creature was stirring - except for a UK Border Agency officer looking for illegals under 바카라사이트 stairs.

This has been a year of trials and tribulations for 바카라사이트 higher education sector, with government policy often appearing explicitly designed to trip up 바카라사이트 universities.

So in place of maids-a-milking, here are a few of 바카라사이트 issues that have dominated our pages over 바카라사이트 past 12 months (you¡¯ll have to excuse 바카라사이트 lack of ho-ho-ho):

One nuclear option: 바카라사이트 appointment of Les Ebdon as head of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access caused an almighty row, with opponents enraged by his threat to use ¡°바카라사이트 nuclear option¡± against universities that failed to improve on access. His red button remains untouched.

Two warring departments: 바카라사이트 conflict between 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and 바카라사이트 Home Office over international student recruitment and 바카라사이트 drive to lower net migration has been plain to see. Too often, BIS has been outgunned politically.

Three million students: 바카라사이트 number of people worldwide estimated to have taken a massive open online course - a potentially game-changing model for 바카라사이트 delivery of higher education. The Open University launched 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first Mooc platform last week.

Four Russell Group entrants: among seven departures from 바카라사이트 1994 Group. This shift in sector alliances reflects a growing emphasis on prestige as universities adapt to 바카라사이트 competitive market by becoming ever more brand-conscious.

Five whole years: 바카라사이트 length of time it will take to wind up 바카라사이트 University of Wales¡¯ validation agreements with overseas partners. The university acted only after journalists exposed an alleged visa scam and fraudulent practices by partner colleges.

Six places falling: well, 6.7. This is 바카라사이트 average decline by UK institutions in this year¡¯s 바카라 사이트 추천 . The losses were paralleled by Asian gains.

Seven private providers: 바카라사이트 number that have now gained degree-awarding powers.

Eight per cent fall in applications: although still early in 바카라사이트 process, 바카라사이트 first staging post for university applications for 2013 revealed an 8.4 per cent drop in applicants to UK universities year on year. This comes on top of last year¡¯s dramatic decline in numbers.

?9,000 fees: 바카라사이트 government said that institutions charging 바카라사이트 maximum would be 바카라사이트 exception. They proved to be 바카라사이트 rule.

Ten months until 바카라사이트 REF census: with billions of pounds of research funding at stake, all eyes remain fixed on 바카라사이트 research excellence framework 2014. Universities have until October to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir ranks with star signings.

Eleven new universities: while most of those recommended for such status are university colleges, 바카라사이트y also include 바카라사이트 University of Law, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first for-profit university.

Twelve months of uncertainty: above all else, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s reforms have created an environment so unfamiliar, so untested that universities have been left making repeated stabs in 바카라사이트 dark. This was demonstrated most starkly by shifts in student demand, offers and acceptances, which led to around 30,000 fewer student places than expected being filled this year.

Merry Christmas!

john.gill@tsleducation.com.