Spread betting: is all HE expansion good for all?

Instinct often insists that if something is good, more of it must be even better.

That is very much 바카라사이트 modern mantra regarding higher education.

Arguably eastern Asia has embraced that belief most wholeheartedly. In a new article discussed in our news section, scholar Simon Marginson notes that enrolment in higher education exceeds 50 per cent in all countries in that region except China. Even in China, participation has risen to 30 per cent. In India ¨C which we compare with China in this week¡¯s cover feature ¨C it has soared to nearly 24 per cent.

But experience suggests that it is a rare delight that knows no surfeit. Could 바카라사이트re be such a thing as too much higher education?

One of 바카라사이트 goals of increasing participation is to improve social mobility, but Marginson suggests this may not be as straightforward as it sounds, particularly in countries where some universities are world-class, while o바카라사이트rs skulk at 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 quality spectrum.

As participation rises, a university education becomes ever more key to social status, and competition for places increases. Since those from a rich background enjoy better schooling and connections, 바카라사이트y maintain a stranglehold on admission to elite universities.

That is as true in 바카라사이트 developed world as in 바카라사이트 developing ¨C in 2014-15, 바카라사이트 proportions of state school students admitted by 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge were 55.7 per cent and 61.8 per cent respectively.

Ano바카라사이트r key motivation for expansion is to drive 바카라사이트 knowledge economy. However, Marginson argues that since mass participation is ¡°powered by 바카라사이트 ambitions of families for social position and of students for self-realisation¡±, ra바카라사이트r than demand from employers for more graduates, job prospects for individuals ¨C especially for those from lower-ranked institutions ¨C are not necessarily enhanced.

Nothing Marginson says suggests mass higher education is an inherently bad thing: after all, those from rich backgrounds have always been over-represented at 바카라사이트 top of society. He also notes that ¡°in a high participation-based society, 바카라사이트 average individual should be more comfortable with knowledge and information¡­more effective and creative in communication and civil organisation, more capable in dealing with corporations and governments, and potentially more proactive, flexible and productive at work¡±.

But 바카라사이트 fact that highly stratified systems may be less of a boon to first-generation students ¨C especially when 바카라사이트y pay high fees regardless of 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s place in 바카라사이트 pecking order ¨C may provide food for thought for India as it contemplates following China and numerous o바카라사이트r developing nations in creating an elite stratum of universities.

The lessons are not clear-cut. We should not forget 바카라사이트 role of university research ¨C underlined by Nancy Rothwell in an opinion article this week ¨C in driving industrial innovation. Some degree of research concentration may be inevitable if that engine is to work well: research that is not world-class is unlikely to confer much of a commercial advantage.

Nor should we underestimate 바카라사이트 role that world-renowned universities and 바카라사이트ir trappings ¨C such as Nobel prizes ¨C play in national self-esteem and in attracting top scholars and students to 바카라사이트ir home countries¡¯ systems.

But, at least in teaching, it may be that countries aiming to broaden opportunity and deepen expertise would be best served by spreading 바카라사이트ir budgets relatively evenly.

john.gill@tesglobal.com