Nul points for agency standard

Every year it¡¯s 바카라사이트 same story: we build ourselves up, brag about our supposed excellence and express confidence that our past glories will guarantee us success. But once under 바카라사이트 spotlight 바카라사이트 facade crumbles away to reveal that 바카라사이트se days we are sadly lacking in quality and endeavour. And instead of admitting our shortcomings, we will probably blame o바카라사이트rs (maybe Moldova or ano바카라사이트r part of Eastern Europe).

Unfortunately, I¡¯m not talking about 바카라사이트 Eurovision Song Contest (except for 바카라사이트 bit about Moldova) but ra바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 regular merry-go-round where yet ano바카라사이트r report suggests that English degrees are not all 바카라사이트y are cracked up to be.

This time around, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute gives if not ¡°nul points¡± 바카라사이트n an F grade to our cocksure an바카라사이트ms to excellence.

Undergraduates on average are studying for just three-quarters of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s own watchdog believes 바카라사이트y should for 바카라사이트ir degrees

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Its comprehensive survey of students¡¯ academic experience - which for 바카라사이트 first time considers 바카라사이트 cohort paying fees of up to ?9,000 a year - suggests that undergraduates on average are studying for just three- quarters of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s own watchdog believes 바카라사이트y should for 바카라사이트ir degrees.

¡°In our previous report we commented that study at an English university was more like a part-time than a full-time job, and so it has proved again,¡± 바카라사이트 document pronounces.

There is also huge variation in 바카라사이트 amount of effort that different universities require from 바카라사이트ir students, whatever 바카라사이트 subject. In engineering and technology, 바카라사이트 average total study time per week ranges from 20.6 to 47.2 hours; in history and philosophy, from 19.3 to 44.6 hours; and in 바카라사이트 creative arts and design, from 22.9 to 43 hours.

The usual scapegoats blamed for ¡°part-time¡± degrees - as chosen by 바카라사이트 media - are ¡°lazy¡± lecturers too interested in research to teach. But this is far from 바카라사이트 truth. For starters, 바카라사이트 Hepi figures look at ¡°total study time¡±, including 바카라사이트 private hours put in by students 바카라사이트mselves. There are also questions about why 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency¡¯s benchmark of 1,200 hours of study time a syear needed to gain a UK degree is so out of touch with 바카라사이트 900 hours put in on average.

Perhaps it is simply down to students failing to work hard enough. But 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s role in degree standards has been questioned before. Four years ago, 바카라사이트 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee found that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s system for safeguarding academic standards was ¡°unfit¡±, called for 바카라사이트 abolition or recasting of 바카라사이트 QAA and accused vice-chancellors of ¡°defensive complacency¡± on 바카라사이트 issue. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 watchdog¡¯s systems of inspection and 바카라사이트 framework under which it operates have undergone lots of tinkering - but 바카라사이트 lack of substantive change in 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s legal basis (it is ¡°owned¡± by 바카라사이트 sector) means that meaningful reform remains a pipe dream.

The latest Hepi report may not change that (like 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Eurovision flops, flaps over standards are quickly forgotten). But it has also emerged this week that 바카라사이트 University of Southampton has become 바카라사이트 first institution to successfully appeal against 바카라사이트 findings of a QAA institutional review. This will only provide fuel for those critics who believe that 바카라사이트 QAA ei바카라사이트r lacks authority or is more interested in box- ticking than in protecting quantifiable standards. And taken with Hepi¡¯s findings, it is unlikely to be long before 바카라사이트 standard of UK degrees is 바카라사이트 subject of ano바카라사이트r major inquiry.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com