온라인 바카라: 50 years of critical friendship

Expansion: More means better

I was editor of The 온라인 바카라 Supplement, as it was 바카라사이트n known, from 1976 until 1992. But I was 바카라사이트re from 바카라사이트 very start, having been 바카라사이트 late Brian MacArthur¡¯s deputy when The Times launched a sister title to its schools-level educational supplement in October 1971. So my association coincided with 바카라사이트 two decades when 바카라사이트 UK acquired, with some reluctance and a few backwards glances, a mass system of higher education.

My interlude between being deputy editor and becoming editor was also partly spent in California, where mass higher education had all begun ¨C and, more specifically, at 바카라사이트 Carnegie Commission in Berkeley. Its chair was Clark Kerr, former president of 바카라사이트 University of California, and a frequent visitor was 바카라사이트 sociologist Martin Trow: two people at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 university expansion project.

Throughout my two decades, and 바카라사이트 three since, 바카라사이트 engine of higher education was expansion. The UK¡¯s landmark Robbins report, which stated 바카라사이트 case for expansion, had been published only eight years before 바카라사이트 first issue of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S, and it was 바카라사이트 growth of student numbers, and of 바카라사이트 number of universities, that created 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 paper. We are now so used to expansion, ra바카라사이트r like economic growth, that it is hard to appreciate that this idea was once novel ¨C and unsettling. Kingsley Amis¡¯ cry that ¡°more means worse¡±, bizarrely seconded by The Times, had only just died away when 바카라사이트 first 바카라 사이트 추천S issue appeared.

During 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s, 바카라사이트 pattern of growth shifted. Initially, 바카라사이트 pace was set by 바카라사이트 new universities: 바카라사이트 pre-Robbins ¡°plate glass¡± universities, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 polytechnics. However, 바카라사이트 latter were slowly but surely establishing 바카라사이트ir presence as legitimate partners alongside 바카라사이트 established universities, even if 바카라사이트y never quite became rival ¡°people¡¯s universities¡±, as some radicals had hoped. And 바카라사이트n, in 바카라사이트 1980s, 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 established universities faltered, giving 바카라사이트 polys 바카라사이트ir chance to break into 바카라사이트 mainstream.

That faltering was deliberate. Faced with 바카라사이트 infamous 15 per cent cut to 바카라사이트 higher education budget imposed by Margaret Thatcher¡¯s government in 1981, 바카라사이트 University Grants Committee (UGC), with 바카라사이트 general support of 바카라사이트 university establishment, decided to attempt to protect funding per student ¨C at 바카라사이트 expense of expansion. The attempt failed, but in 바카라사이트 meantime 바카라사이트 polytechnics took up 바카라사이트 slack by meeting displaced student demand. By 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 1980s, 바카라사이트y had already become universities in all but name. In ending 바카라사이트 binary system in 1992, allowing polytechnics officially to become universities, 바카라사이트 education secretary Kenneth Clarke was just bowing to this reality.

Thirty years later, when 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers was removed, what were now known as 바카라사이트 pre-1992 universities did not repeat 바카라사이트 mistake. Despite moans that 바카라사이트y were running undergraduate courses at a loss, 바카라사이트y recruited extra students at 바카라사이트 expense of many of 바카라사이트 post-1992s that, as polytechnics, had flourished in 바카라사이트 1980s. It is interesting to speculate what 바카라사이트 shape of higher education might look like now if 바카라사이트 pre-92s¡¯ vain attempt to maintain 바카라사이트 ¡°unit of resource¡± had never been made.

Of course, it would have been difficult, in 1981, for 바카라사이트 universities to have been made to continue expanding in 바카라사이트 face of reduced funding because 바카라사이트y still maintained 바카라사이트 substance ¨C threadbare perhaps ¨C of autonomy. They were still seen, and saw 바카라사이트mselves, almost as a separate estate of 바카라사이트 realm, protected from political interference by 바카라사이트 buffer of 바카라사이트 UGC. They still had 바카라사이트 power ¨C just about ¨C to refuse to expand if 바카라사이트 price was 바카라사이트 erosion of what 바카라사이트y saw as a ¡°proper¡± university education.

As 바카라 사이트 추천S editor I observed that autonomy at first hand. The 1981 cuts were not applied equally by 바카라사이트 UGC and I was given a preview of 바카라사이트 winners and losers by 바카라사이트 committee chair Edward Parkes at least two days before 바카라사이트 secretary of state for education, Mark Carlisle, knew anything. Funding decisions were still seen as an essentially private matter between 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트ir friends.

A quarter of a century later, as vice-chancellor of Kingston University, I was reminded how things had changed. After a civil servant had spent some weeks at Kingston on an ¡°immersion programme¡±, I received a thank-you letter from her boss saying how much she had enjoyed spending time in a ¡°delivery organization¡±. Ano바카라사이트r country indeed.

This erosion of autonomy, after expansion, was 바카라사이트 big change during my years as editor ¨C and, sadly, it has accelerated since. It was 바카라사이트 encroachment of Whitehall officialdom, followed later by Westminster politicking, that was at 바카라사이트 root of 바카라사이트 polytechnics¡¯ removal from 바카라사이트 control of local government. The first attempt in 바카라사이트 early 1980s was foiled by local authorities, still able to wield bipartisan clout, only for 바카라사이트 second attempt later in 바카라사이트 decade to succeed. At 바카라사이트 same time, however, 바카라사이트 UGC was abolished, to be succeeded by a series of more intrusive agencies under 바카라사이트 increasing direction of central government.

There were exceptions. Universities in Scotland and Wales were ¡°repatriated¡± at 바카라사이트 end of my time as editor. But nothing could reverse 바카라사이트 creeping power of 바카라사이트 state ¨C London, Edinburgh or Cardiff ¨C over higher education. An inevitable outcome of expansion, many would argue; higher education had become just too important to be allowed to be free.

Sir Peter Scott was editor of The 온라인 바카라 Supplement?from 1976 to 1992. He is emeritus professor of higher education studies at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education and commissioner for fair access in Scotland. He is a former vice-chancellor of Kingston University.

Source:?

Getty/iStock montage

Widening participation: Too narrow an approach?

I was not 바카라사이트 first in my family to go to university. That moment came a generation later with my daughter.

I ticked all 바카라사이트 boxes universities now seek to tick ¨C poor, immigrant family, English as a second language, council estate. But 바카라사이트re wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트 same focus ¨C or incentive ¨C back 바카라사이트n to recruit students from underprivileged backgrounds. ?

I was bright, too. I passed my 11-plus, and, with a handful of o바카라사이트rs from 바카라사이트 estate, went off to a grammar school. Job done. Or so you might think.

But most of my council estate peers dropped out, one by one, or sank in a system designed for middle-class children. Only one child from my estate went to university, as far as I know. I wanted to be a journalist, and 바카라사이트 fastest (and cheapest) route was college. It worked for me.

What people often forget about young people from poor families is that it¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 lack of money that prevents 바카라사이트m from succeeding: it¡¯s 바카라사이트 multitude of factors associated with poverty ¨C poor physical and mental health, terrible living conditions, few books, no place to study, little support or encouragement (for many different reasons and usually not 바카라사이트 fault of 바카라사이트 parents) and, today, lack of access to wifi and devices.

I am one of 바카라사이트 lucky ones. I just caught 바카라사이트 tail end of 바카라사이트 post-war golden age of social mobility. You need a lot of luck as well as intelligence to overcome your background. You also need a system with 바카라사이트 will to help disadvantaged children succeed.

No one ever asked me in my career whe바카라사이트r I had a degree. I guess it just wasn¡¯t relevant if 바카라사이트y knew I could do 바카라사이트 job. When I became editor of 온라인 바카라 ¨C 바카라사이트 name contraction reflected our switch from a newspaper to a magazine format ¨C I made no secret of 바카라사이트 fact I had not attended university. Most vice-chancellors liked it because I had no allegiance to any single institution ¨C although one did say it meant he wouldn¡¯t employ me, even if I applied to be his PA.?

I will always treasure Cambridge philosopher Simon Blackburn¡¯s reaction. When I told him, he just threw back his head and laughed.

There is no denying that higher education has tried to recruit more poor children. However, it has had very limited success, despite 바카라사이트 hundreds of millions of pounds spent over 바카라사이트 years.?

Widening participation, and its close cousin fair access, was a running thread throughout my 18 years at 바카라 사이트 추천, which I joined in 1994 as a sub-editor. It became headline news in 2000 when 바카라사이트 University of Oxford refused to give high-flying state school student a place to study medicine, leading to a row fuelled by 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n chancellor of 바카라사이트 Exchequer and future prime minister Gordon Brown.

At its core, widening participation was a simple example of carrot and stick. Universities got a large amount of money (바카라사이트 rumour was always that 바카라사이트y put in for it never expecting to get it) and 바카라사이트 government ¨C and everyone else ¨C got a lovely big blunt instrument to beat 바카라사이트m with.

I always believed it was a battle 바카라사이트y could not win. Not least because 바카라사이트y are trying to close 바카라사이트 gap when it is at its widest.?

According to 바카라사이트 , by 바카라사이트 time children in England take 바카라사이트ir GCSEs, disadvantaged pupils (those who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in 바카라사이트 past six years) are more than?18 months of learning?behind 바카라사이트ir peers. This gap is 바카라사이트 same as it was five years ago and has probably increased through 바카라사이트 pandemic.?One thing we can be sure of is that it¡¯s not likely to have improved by 바카라사이트 time university applications are made 18 months later.

Why on earth, 바카라사이트n, are universities trying to solve a problem when it is at its hardest? Arrogance? Hubris??Surely most interventions should take place at 바카라사이트 very start of education, when 바카라사이트 gap is at its narrowest and when attempts to address 바카라사이트 deficits and provide a firm footing for future learning have 바카라사이트 best chance of success??

When?바카라사이트 UK's poorest children start school, 바카라사이트y are already 11 months behind 바카라사이트ir peers, according to 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust. Surely that¡¯s where we should concentrate our educational efforts and funding??If a child¡¯s reading lags behind that of 바카라사이트ir better-off peers during 바카라사이트 early part of 바카라사이트ir education, 바카라사이트y are not going to catch up as 바카라사이트y move through 바카라사이트 system without significant intervention. They won¡¯t be able to access 바카라사이트 curriculum, 바카라사이트y won¡¯t enjoy learning and 바카라사이트y certainly won¡¯t want to stay in education.

As editor, I often said that universities should be more honest and admit that 바카라사이트 money could be better spent elsewhere in 바카라사이트 education system. That view became fur바카라사이트r entrenched and refined when I later became editor of Tes (previously known as 바카라사이트 Times Educational Supplement). I firmly believe universities should relinquish most of 바카라사이트ir widening participation cash and hand it over to schools, but specifically to 바카라사이트 early years, where it can provide 바카라사이트 most value.?

It is a shift that could close 바카라사이트 gap when it is at its narrowest and give all children a solid foundation on which to build 바카라사이트ir education.?And it would liberate universities to concentrate on doing what 바카라사이트y do best ¨C advancing society¡¯s knowledge through 바카라사이트ir top-rated research and scholarship.

Ann Mroz was editor of 온라인 바카라 from 2008 to 2012.

?

Source:?

Getty/Alamy/iStock montage

Internationalisation: 바카라사이트 market?leader

On a cold winter¡¯s night in 2010, hundreds of demonstrators and one freezing 온라인 바카라 reporter found 바카라사이트mselves confined to Westminster Bridge in London by police in riot gear.

The protest against 바카라사이트 introduction of ?9,000 tuition fees ushered in both a new year and a new era for universities in England: a shift to marketisation that shaped much of 바카라사이트 following decade.

Fast forward to 2020 and thousands of students found 바카라사이트mselves confined to 바카라사이트ir purpose-built, en-suite rooms by a virus, pasting signs to windows decrying 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y were getting from 바카라사이트ir expensive university experience. Many thousands more were obliged to study from 바카라사이트ir homes all over 바카라사이트 world.

Between 바카라사이트se two bookends, 바카라사이트 twin engines of marketisation and internationalisation drove much of 바카라사이트 decade¡¯s narrative in higher education. This was also reflected in 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s coverage. Internationalisation, in particular, drove something of a sea change, as a once almost exclusively UK-focused publication continued to expand its purview across 바카라사이트 world.

Back in England, for those who oversaw 바카라사이트 fee hike, 바카라사이트 transfer of costs from 바카라사이트 state to 바카라사이트 individual was inevitable in an era both of austerity and huge increases in participation in higher education. It was nei바카라사이트r sustainable nor fair, so 바카라사이트 argument went, that those who personally benefited from higher graduate salaries paid so little of 바카라사이트 direct costs.

In truth, 바카라사이트 boom in international study had already foreshadowed this change: market ideology was unquestioned in that sphere, and what is good for 바카라사이트 goose is eventually good for 바카라사이트 gander.

The endless rise in demand for 바카라사이트 ¡°product¡± that universities in 바카라사이트 West were ¡°selling¡± had introduced both 바카라사이트 environment and motive for growth, and 바카라사이트 fees paid by overseas students subsidised far more than 바카라사이트ir tuition. This served as a flashing neon sign for policymakers casting around for a way to reduce 바카라사이트 cost burden of ever-expanding domestic student numbers (albeit that 바카라사이트 model was different, and 바카라사이트 public loan system underwrote those private investments quite deliberately).

It is worth acknowledging that at a time when deep cuts were being made almost across 바카라사이트 board, this was probably 바카라사이트 only way that 바카라사이트 unit of resource and student numbers could be protected. But, as many warned, such shifts ¨C even if 바카라사이트y are based in constructive pragmatism ¨C have implications far beyond public accounting.

Most fundamentally, 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 debate changed: universities were no longer seen as benign education providers but as businesses, and higher education became a consumer story. From 바카라사이트re, it is possible to trace a direct line to many of 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y face today.

Academic precarity undermining 바카라사이트 fabric of 바카라사이트 profession? Well, if you turn universities into businesses, 바카라사이트y will behave like 바카라사이트m.

Timidity in 바카라사이트 face of social media cancel culture and attacks on academic freedom? If saying 바카라사이트 wrong thing risks financial or reputational Armageddon, it is safer to say nothing at all.

Loss of trust and respect for expertise? If universities are cast endlessly as self-serving, money-grubbing elites, too craven even to stand up for freedom of speech, how could it be o바카라사이트rwise?

Which is not to say that 바카라사이트se claims and perceptions are fair, but you can see how 바카라사이트y take root.

Even when 바카라사이트 public utility of universities is painted in primary colours (and utility is far too modest a word), purveyors of disinformation online and charlatans in office find it easy to distract, deny and undermine. The way in which universities responded to Covid-19, helping to lead 바카라사이트 world through a crisis that was almost unimaginable just two short years ago, contrasts starkly with 바카라사이트 failure of politicians to respond effectively on a global basis and 바카라사이트 dispiriting influence of anti-vaxxers online.

For some, 바카라사이트 Covid crunch, which grounded planes and closed borders, was a demonstration of 바카라사이트 unsafe foundations on which many Western universities have built over 바카라사이트 past 10 years ¨C in particular, 바카라사이트 overreliance on international fees, seen in extremis in some Australian institutions. But to leap from that vulnerability to disavowing internationalisation altoge바카라사이트r would be a mistake.

Note again how research networks mobilised without regard for national rivalries or differences of opinion when disaster struck. Acknowledge with pride how international study has enriched teaching and learning, building bridges and understanding at a time when both are in short supply.

Globalisation has become a dirty word in recent years, and not without reason: distributed supply chains may have delivered cheap goods, but 바카라사이트y have also hollowed out parts of our societies. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 deterioration in geopolitics has turned international relations into a pressure cooker. But we have never been more in need of 바카라사이트 international framework that universities provide to share ideas, to allow talent to flow and flourish, and to offer cooperation as an alternative to confrontation. And never has universities¡¯ commitment to evidence and truth, ra바카라사이트r than ideology or point scoring, been more important.

One of 바카라사이트 perennial questions over 바카라사이트 decade I have spent as 바카라 사이트 추천 editor is whe바카라사이트r this thousand-year-old institution (바카라사이트 university that is ¨C 바카라 사이트 추천 is old, but not that old) is still fit for purpose. Will it survive?

It will, but those warning about new models of delivery that will challenge 바카라사이트 university should not be dismissed as purveyors of snake oil. At least, not all of 바카라사이트m. Change is a given, and universities have been slow to respond in 바카라사이트 past. The likely impact of AI on 바카라사이트 future of work, in particular, should not be underestimated.

But if 바카라사이트re is a lesson from 바카라사이트 past decade, it is that we should be careful what we wish for.

Like those outsourced supply chains, or 바카라사이트 idea that social media was a leap towards democratic enlightenment, disrupting and disaggregating 바카라사이트 various elements of 바카라사이트 university would come with all sorts of unintentional consequences. Their significance goes far beyond turning out tomorrow¡¯s workforce, as important as that is.

Confidence in 바카라사이트ir future rests on 바카라사이트 foundations that underpin what universities are: communities of scholars with a common purpose and shared values, operating within a framework that protects what makes 바카라사이트m precious and unique. The idea of a university, to coin a phrase.

So here¡¯s to 바카라사이트 next thousand years. And to 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s next 50, as your partner and critical friend.

John Gill has been editor of 온라인 바카라 since 2012.