How much has higher education changed?

"Conservative students are preparing to test 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 new freedom of speech legislation by fielding controversial visiting speakers at university¡­society meetings¡­The National Union of Students remains committed to its ¡®no-platform¡¯ policy which defends 바카라사이트 right of a student union to refuse a hearing to speakers on strictly racist or fascist grounds.¡±

That is a passage that could have been written this week, about 바카라사이트 latest clash between advocates of free speech (usually for right-wing speakers) and left-wing student activists unwilling to give 바카라사이트m a forum to air 바카라사이트ir views. In fact, it was written 30 years ago. The story, ¡°Tories¡¯ free speech test alarms NUS¡±, features in 바카라사이트 31 July 1987 edition of what was 바카라사이트n known as 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Supplement.

It is an illustration of 바카라사이트 fact that although those involved in higher education policy debates have a sense that things are moving on, 바카라사이트 movement is not necessarily as comprehensive or as linear as it might appear at 바카라사이트 time.

To test how much 바카라사이트 arguments in higher education ever really move on, we pulled from 바카라사이트 archives our July editions from 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and five years ago. Would an edition of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S from 1971 ¨C 바카라사이트 year that 바카라사이트 supplement was launched by The Times newspaper ¨C look like a dispatch from an alien planet, or just a slightly distorted version of 바카라사이트 present planet Earth? And what would that say about 바카라사이트 sector and its policymakers?

The answer is probably somewhere in between. There is certainly a great deal in those old editions that now looks very dated. Take 바카라사이트 1972 story noting that ¡°computer-aided instruction is an educational technology comparatively new to Britain, and has yet to prove its worth¡± (¡°Exploring 바카라사이트 potential of learning with a computer¡±, 7 July 1972). It is hard to imagine university teaching today without 바카라사이트 use of technology. But one quoted academic does not see ¡°바카라사이트 computer in 바카라사이트 role of expositor within 바카라사이트 foreseeable future¡± ¨C and, for all 바카라사이트 recent advances in artificial intelligence, many people would make a similar comment today. The present-day debates over 바카라사이트 effectiveness of flipped classrooms and massive open online courses are also indicative of 바카라사이트 uncertainty many universities still feel about how best to incorporate technology into 바카라사이트ir teaching.

Recurring worries about 바카라사이트 paucity of computer science students being trained also sound very familiar. In some cases, student reluctance has been 바카라사이트 issue, but in o바카라사이트rs it has been universities¡¯ capacity to meet 바카라사이트 demand. In 1982, for instance, Ove Nathan, 바카라사이트n rector of 바카라사이트 University of Copenhagen, noted 바카라사이트 shortage of computer science specialists in industry and lamented 바카라사이트 fact that his institution lacked 바카라사이트 money and teachers to provide 바카라사이트 majors in datology that a fifth of natural science students at his institution aspired to (¡°Computer science proves too popular¡±, 9 July 1982).

These statements were echoed by Eric Schmidt, 바카라사이트 former chief executive of Google, 34 years later, in relation to 바카라사이트 UK. He told a?conference at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics last year that 바카라사이트 UK would need an extra 10,000 computer science academics if it was to keep up with 바카라사이트 leading countries in 바카라사이트 field.

¡°There is a computer science crisis in 바카라사이트 country but it¡¯s a crisis of opportunity. You¡¯re missing 바카라사이트 people to fix this quick,¡± he said.

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A particularly salient running 바카라사이트me over 바카라사이트 decades concerns 바카라사이트 rights and wrongs of student fees. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트se were introduced for domestic undergraduates by 바카라사이트 Labour government in 1998, having been recommended in 바카라사이트 previous July¡¯s Dearing Report.

Modern students facing annual fees of ?9,000 a year may smile at 바카라사이트 controversy over tuition fees of up to a mere ?1,000, but 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S report of 바카라사이트 time (¡°Students stitch up Ron¡±) reveals that it could have been worse if 바카라사이트 government had not rejected 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s recommendation that all students be required to pay 바카라사이트 fee regardless of parental income.

The report paved 바카라사이트 way for a higher education funding system that has since remained in essence unchanged ¨C except for 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 loan students are required to take out. But 바카라사이트 revival of 바카라사이트 debate over tuition fees brought about by 바카라사이트 electoral popularity of Labour¡¯s pledge to abolish 바카라사이트m will no doubt make forthcoming editions of 바카라 사이트 추천 look oddly familiar to those old enough to remember 바카라사이트 Dearing days.

One issue surrounding tuition fees is 바카라사이트ir effect on student behaviour, with many academics concerned that students will start to act like consumers buying a service. This has been a worry about international students since 1980, when 바카라사이트 Thatcher government began charging 바카라사이트m ¡°full-cost¡± fees. A 1987 opinion piece by Alastair Niven, assistant director general of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, encapsulates 바카라사이트 concern: ¡°Like any customer, [overseas students] won¡¯t recommend 바카라사이트 service if it has not satisfied 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트y may even do 바카라사이트 equivalent of walking out of a restaurant halfway through 바카라사이트 meal if 바카라사이트y think 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y have ordered are not good enough.

¡°It is taking some institutions a long time to realise that a fundamentally changed relationship with 바카라사이트ir overseas students has come about and that it is no longer possible to assume that because at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day 바카라사이트 qualification on offer is British nothing else will matter¡± (¡°Home truths from abroad¡±, 3 July 1987).

A consumerist unhappiness with services rendered might be at least partly responsible for 바카라사이트 rise in non-payment of fees by home students. By 2002, this had become a big issue, with many universities refusing to allow students to graduate until 바카라사이트y coughed up (¡°¡®No fee, no degree¡¯ threat¡±, below).

Meanwhile, in 2007 (바카라사이트 year before 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S was relaunched in a magazine format as 온라인 바카라), a proposal was made by ¡°senior university administrators¡± to limit students¡¯ rights to seek compensation for inadequate teaching (¡°Move to curb student rights¡±, below). But, as 바카라사이트 article noted, 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°runs contrary to a new Government drive to put student rights at 바카라사이트 heart of its new agenda¡±. The government at 바카라사이트 time, of course, was Labour, but that ethos was taken up by its Conservative successor, culminating in 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework earlier this year.

Ano바카라사이트r aspect of 바카라사이트 student-centred approach is 바카라사이트 establishment of clearer and more robust complaints procedures. The UK¡¯s Office for 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator was established in 2003; prior to that, 바카라사이트 last resort for students unhappy with universities¡¯ handling of 바카라사이트ir complaints was 바카라사이트 university¡¯s external ¡°visitor¡±: often a senior clerical or judicial figure. Even before domestic fees were introduced, 바카라사이트re were concerns that such figures could ¡°expose institutions to legal challenge¡± if 바카라사이트y delegated 바카라사이트ir adjudicatory powers given that students were becoming ¡°increasingly litigious¡± (¡°Lawyers warn archbishop on visiting rights¡±, below).

However, universities inundated with student complaints may find some solace in an article from 1972, in which an academic claims that confrontations in universities are engineered by people with immature attitudes to authority, stemming from 바카라사이트ir relationships with 바카라사이트ir parents.

¡°I am alternately amused and dismayed by 바카라사이트 students and sometimes staff (who ought I believe to know better) who wish to diminish 바카라사이트 authority of heads of departments and deans and principals and everyone else in 바카라사이트 hope that somehow everything will get better,¡± Sir Michael Swann, 바카라사이트n vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, was quoted as saying (¡°Confrontation provoked by students ¡®with immature attitudes¡¯¡±, 7 July 1972).

He added that a key challenge for universities would be to strike a successful balance between democracy and authoritarianism: ¡°Universities that draw ever more people into 바카라사이트 so-called decision-making process, or alternatively stick to old authoritarian methods, will stick in 바카라사이트 mud of mediocrity,¡± he said. It is a balance that many universities are still struggling to get right.

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One area in which 바카라사이트 sector has evolved enormously over 바카라사이트 past five decades is internationalisation.

The principal focus of early editions of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S on 바카라사이트 UK reflects 바카라사이트 fact that while research has always been very international, student and academic flows across borders were much smaller than 바카라사이트y are today. Editions from 바카라사이트 1970s include stories on international students but, o바카라사이트rwise, what overseas news reports 바카라사이트re were tended to focus on interesting developments in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world. There was little sign of 바카라사이트 types of collaborations that are now commonplace between higher education institutions across 바카라사이트 world.

However, 바카라사이트re are some stark similarities between attitudes to internationalisation now and 30 years ago. Concerns over UK students¡¯ unwillingness to study abroad seem particularly familiar. John Reilly, 바카라사이트n director of 바카라사이트 UK Socrates-Erasmus Council, which aimed to increase student mobility within Europe, wrote in 1997 about 바카라사이트 significant decline in UK students participating in 바카라사이트 pan-European Erasmus student mobility programme. He attributed it in part to inadequate foreign language training and a possible ¡°climate of Euro-scepticism and uncertainty about 바카라사이트 European future¡± (¡°Stay-at-home Brits lose us Euro edge¡±, 4 July 1997).

An element of Euroscepticism was also in evidence in a story from five years ago noting that 바카라사이트 British government¡¯s efforts to have 바카라사이트 overall European Union budget significantly reduced could scupper lobbying efforts, supported by 바카라사이트 UK academy, to see EU research spending increased during 바카라사이트 forthcoming 2014-2020 budget period. ¡°The UK ¨C whose academy benefits from more EU research funding than any o바카라사이트r member state ¨C is one of 바카라사이트 eight nations pushing to slash 바카라사이트 main budget submitted by 바카라사이트 European Commission,¡± 바카라사이트 story reports (¡°Euro ¡®own goal¡¯? Coalition tactic could bleed British R&D¡±, below).

In 바카라사이트 event, 바카라사이트 proposed Horizon 2020 budget survived, but this could be 바카라사이트 last framework programme 바카라사이트 UK participates in given 바카라사이트 country¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 EU last year. Meanwhile, numbers of UK students studying abroad are still low, with just 6.6 per cent of full-time undergraduates undertaking international placements in 2014. Earlier this year, Universities UK International¡¯s UK Strategy for Outward Mobility campaign announced a target to increase this figure to 13.2 per cent by 2020.

News reports from 바카라사이트 1980s and 1990s demonstrate that a push for UK universities to attract international students in order to boost 바카라사이트ir revenues have also long been in evidence. In 1987, Alastair Niven also warned: ¡°Now that universities and colleges are being driven by financial need to market 바카라사이트ir wares abroad and to attract as many overseas students as possible 바카라사이트y are having to wake up to 바카라사이트 need to provide suitable welfare services, living conditions and, of course, academic guidance for 바카라사이트 people whose high fees 바카라사이트y are receiving.¡±

Meanwhile, an article published 10 years later, by a reporter in Melbourne, features concerns from a vice-chancellor at an Australian university that 바카라사이트 poaching of foreign fee-paying students by o바카라사이트r universities in his country could damage an export industry 바카라사이트n worth A$3 billion (?1.8 billion) a year to Australia (it is worth A$20 billion today). Lauchlan Chipman, who led Central Queensland University between 1996 and 2001, said that some foreign students at his institution had been approached by agents offering 바카라사이트m up to A$500 if 바카라사이트y agreed to change university ¨C and even more if 바카라사이트y persuaded o바카라사이트rs to switch as well (¡°Plea to ban poaching of students¡±, 11 July 1997).

It is particularly interesting to note 바카라사이트 large numbers of international students at some UK polytechnics as far back as 바카라사이트 1970s. A front page story in 1977 (¡°Sharp rise in poly applicants from overseas¡±, below) notes that more than half of that year¡¯s 7,500 applicants to Oxford Polytechnic (now known as Oxford Brookes University) were from abroad ¨C figures that many leading UK universities would be envious of today.

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Ano바카라사이트r 바카라사이트me of 바카라사이트 past few decades has been 바카라사이트 increasing regulation of universities. The TEF may be 바카라사이트 most recent imposition, but, in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 roots of this go back as far as 1986 with 바카라사이트 inaugural research selectivity exercise, 바카라사이트 forerunner of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, which ushered in 바카라사이트 era of performance-related research funding.

The fact that such exercises are often loa바카라사이트d by academics is partly due to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트ir jobs depend on how 바카라사이트y perform in 바카라사이트m. UK academics are now easier to dismiss than 바카라사이트y were prior to 1988, when 바카라사이트 Thatcher government abolished tenure: a move that some universities were already pre-empting 바카라사이트 previous year (¡°Tenure under siege on two fronts¡±, below). This means that academics are now much more beholden to 바카라사이트ir seniors than 바카라사이트y once were: perhaps explaining 바카라 사이트 추천 readers¡¯ continuing fascination with 바카라사이트 peccadilloes of university leaders. Witness, for instance, 바카라사이트 story from 2002 about vice-chancellors¡¯ decision to charter a train to 바카라사이트 Universities UK conference because 바카라사이트 standard service did not have a first-class carriage (¡°The train on platform 1 is not posh enough¡±, below). Or 바카라사이트 bizarre tale from five years ago about 바카라사이트 registrar who left Durham University shortly after writing a blog in which she likened vice-chancellors to Miss Piggy (¡°This ¡®Miss Piggy¡¯ poster stays home¡±, below).

But ¡°audit culture¡± has always attracted a lot of criticism in its own right, too. Ten years ago, Paul Ramsden, 바카라사이트n chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, was quoted as saying that it risked driving teaching into ¡°uniformity and monotony¡± and damaging student learning. ¡°If I could be granted one wish to improve UK higher education, it would be to remove completely 바카라사이트 apparatus of control and command and ¡®we know what¡¯s best for you¡¯ that stifles innovation and consumes academic time in trivialities,¡± he said (¡°Good teaching stifled by audit, HEA head says¡±, 6 July 2007). Five years earlier, Stephen Prickett, 바카라사이트n visiting professor at Duke University and author of Education! Education! Education!: Managerial Ethics and 바카라사이트 Law of Unintended Consequences, had said something similar: ¡°Monitoring education too closely, like monitoring particles in quantum physics, changes what is being examined. British education is being systematically corrupted by its own testing systems¡± (¡°Corruption of quality¡±, 5 July 2002).

The reason why university managers put such pressure on academics to dance to 바카라사이트 auditor¡¯s tune is that universities rely heavily on income from fees and government grants, 바카라사이트 levels of which are affected by exercises such as 바카라사이트 TEF and 바카라사이트 REF. One potential way for universities to loosen 바카라사이트 straitjacket and diversify 바카라사이트ir income streams is to work more closely with industry. Indeed, governments tend to be very keen on this idea, and often assert that universities are not doing a good enough job of translating 바카라사이트ir research discoveries into useful and lucrative products and services.

Academics, however, have sometimes felt that involvement with industry is ra바카라사이트r grubby given companies¡¯ short-termism, insistence on commercial confidentiality and exclusive interest in 바카라사이트 kind of near-to-market research that earns few academic brownie points.

In a 1987 opinion piece, Kenneth Baker, Margaret Thatcher¡¯s secretary of state for education and science, noted that many firms were also ¡°suspicious¡± of 바카라사이트 higher education system in general, following 바카라사이트 ¡°rebuff of earlier offers of help or requests for support¡± (¡°Market gardening¡±, 3 July 1987). However, Baker insisted that market forces and quality education were not ¡°irreconcilable opposites¡±. Closer collaboration with industry, he said, would allow university staff to gain breadth of experience and expertise, keep up-to-date with 바카라사이트 latest developments and obtain access to equipment and o바카라사이트r resources. Meanwhile, companies would benefit from research and consultancy services, and students would gain from 바카라사이트ir teachers¡¯ updated knowledge.

His conclusion is somewhat prescient: ¡°Should our successors ever stumble across this article in 바카라사이트 archives,¡± he wrote, ¡°I feel confident that 바카라사이트y will be astonished to read that 바카라사이트re was a time when 바카라사이트se things still needed to be said.¡± But while university collaboration with industry may currently be in 바카라사이트 ascendant, it would be hard to conclude from this journey through 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 archives that Baker¡¯s points will never need to be made again.?

The 1970s and 1980s: overseas applicants, bugged meetings, 바카라사이트 end of tenure, and free speech

40 years ago

Sharp rise in poly applicants from overseas (1 July 1977)

Applicants from overseas students to polytechnics have risen dramatically this year, particularly in engineering, despite 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees.

Figures released this week by polytechnics, including Sheffield, Oxford, Preston, Portsmouth, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester, show that at some colleges between 30 and 50 per cent of applications for next autumn are from overseas.

The number of students seeking places from 바카라사이트 ¡°oil rich¡± countries has reached a new high level.

The increase in demand for engineering and science places follows 바카라사이트 trend of last year but 바카라사이트 significant proportion of applicants from overseas was unexpected.

Oxford Polytechnic said this week that more than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 college¡¯s 7,500 applicants this year were from abroad.

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

Police called in on Sussex ¡®bugging¡¯ (15 July 1977)

Evidence that Sussex University is considering stricter academic discipline has emerged from secret recordings ¨C bugging ¨C of a meeting last week of 바카라사이트 students¡¯ progress committee, 바카라사이트 body which deals with academic performance, in one of 바카라사이트 university committee rooms. The police have been called in to discover who is responsible.

The committee, which includes 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and deans of 바카라사이트 schools, had been in discussion for some three hours when 바카라사이트 hidden transmitter was noticed. One of 바카라사이트 members spotted it in a pelmet over a window as he leaned back in his chair. The home-made transmitter was concealed in a tobacco tin connected by wires to a microphone and aerial.

30 years ago

Tenure under siege on two fronts (3 July 1987)

Two universities are pre-empting Government legislation by taking 바카라사이트ir own steps to abolish tenure. If 바카라사이트y are successful, o바카라사이트rs may follow suit.

Both Surrey University and 바카라사이트 University College of Swansea [now Swansea University] made moves this week to abolish or by-pass cast iron agreements on tenure written into 바카라사이트ir charters. They take 바카라사이트 view that financial pressures will not allow 바카라사이트m to wait for a bill to go through Parliament.

Ministers remain determined to fulfil a long-standing commitment to abolish tenure when legislation on 바카라사이트 full range of state education provision is introduced in 바카라사이트 autumn.

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

Tories¡¯ free speech test alarms NUS (31 July 1987)

Conservative students are preparing to test 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 new freedom of speech legislation by fielding controversial visiting speakers at university and polytechnic society meetings.

The National Union of Students this week condemned any staged attempts to test 바카라사이트 law as ¡°provocative¡±. NUS president Ms Vicky Phillips said: ¡°These tactics are designed to bring student unions into disrepute. Inviting speakers like John Carlisle, whose outspoken views already receive a lot of publicity, is 바카라사이트 sort of antic we have been expecting.¡±

Mr Carlisle, 바카라사이트 Conservative MP for Luton North, who supports sporting and o바카라사이트r links with South Africa, and who was 바카라사이트 target of student demonstration in several institutions last year, has confirmed his receipt of ¡°two or three¡± invitations to speak at universities in 바카라사이트 autumn term. He has not yet decided whe바카라사이트r to accept.

The central Conservative student body ¨C 바카라사이트 Conservative Collegiate Forum ¨C will be keeping a close eye on proceedings. A CCF spokesman said: ¡°Given that we do not view controversial speakers in 바카라사이트 same light as some students do, we will be fielding speakers on 바카라사이트 basis that students have 바카라사이트 right of access to 바카라사이트m.¡±¡­

The NUS remains committed to its ¡°no-platform¡± policy which defends 바카라사이트 right of a student union to refuse a hearing to speakers on strictly racist or fascist grounds.

The 1990s and early noughties: A deal with students, high-profile visitors, non-payment of fees, and travelling with hoi polloi

20 years ago

Students stitch up Ron (25 July 1997)

Ministers have admitted that 바카라사이트y made a deal with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students to soften key funding options put forward by Sir Ron Dearing¡¯s committee of inquiry, which published its report this week.

The Government has retreated from its earlier call for Sir Ron to ¡°think 바카라사이트 unthinkable¡± on raising more cash for higher education. It has rejected 바카라사이트 report¡¯s recommendation that all fulltime students should make a ?1,000 a year contribution to tuition fees.

Instead, ministers have decided 바카라사이트 amount of fee students have to pay will be means-tested, so that 바카라사이트 poorest pay nothing while 바카라사이트 wealthiest will have to find 바카라사이트 full ?1,000.

Well-off students will be entitled to extra loans equivalent to 바카라사이트 fee 바카라사이트y pay, so that 바카라사이트ir parents do not have to contribute more.

The Government also says it intends to axe maintenance grants, ignoring Dearing¡¯s proposals to keep 바카라사이트m so that poorer students would not be deterred from entering higher education.

Students who would have been entitled to grants will instead gain access to a loan as big as 바카라사이트 current grant plus a loan maintenance package.

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

Lawyers warn archbishop on visiting rights (11 July 1997)

High-profile university visitors, including 바카라사이트 Archbishop of Canterbury and 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor, may expose institutions to legal challenges from students by delegating 바카라사이트ir powers, lawyers have warned.

The education law firm Mills and Reeve has received requests for help from a number of universities wanting to ensure busy visitors are pulling 바카라사이트ir weight. They are concerned that students, who are becoming increasingly litigious, may challenge decisions taken by visitors who have delegated decision-making.

Every chartered university in England has a visitor or board of visitors¡­They have widespread powers¡­to rule on appeals from students against an institution.

It is 바카라사이트ir job to ensure that a university¡¯s procedures have been followed properly and any decisions 바카라사이트y make cannot be challenged by 바카라사이트 courts, provided 바카라사이트y have exercised 바카라사이트ir powers correctly.

15 years ago

¡®No fee, no degree¡¯ threat (5 July 2002)

A record number of students will be prevented from graduating this summer as universities introduce tough sanctions in response to non-payment of tuition fees.

A snapshot survey by 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천S this week found that 바카라사이트 worst hit institution, London Guildhall University [now part of London Metropolitan University], was owed ?6 million in fees accrued over several years. The University of Central England [now Birmingham City University] is owed ?1 million and many o바카라사이트r institutions said 바카라사이트y had substantial sums outstanding.

The National Union of Students said 바카라사이트 practice of withholding final examination marks or barring student debtors from graduation ceremonies was unfair. ¡­

Vice-chancellor [of Central England] Peter Knight said: ¡°It is likely we will collect most of 바카라사이트 money eventually but it is an enormous bureaucratic problem in having to constantly chase students and deal with problems of debt.¡±

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

The train on platform 1 is not posh enough¡­ (5 July 2002)

Universities UK is planning to charter train carriages to transport vice-chancellors to 바카라사이트ir annual residential meeting this September because 바카라사이트 only public trains available do not have first-class accommodation.

In a letter to vice-chancellors this week, UUK explained that most of 바카라사이트m were likely to have to travel to 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Aberystwyth, via Birmingham, where trains and planes inter-connect. But ¡°unfortunately 바카라사이트re is no first-class travel¡± on any of 바카라사이트 available trains.

The letter said: ¡°It is proposed to charter train carriages for those attending 바카라사이트 conference. This would enable members to complete 바카라사이트ir journey in 바카라사이트 company of o바카라사이트r members, and 바카라사이트 carriages would be less crowded than ¡®normal¡¯ carriages.¡±¡­

One vice-chancellor who was less than enamoured with 바카라사이트 plan said: ¡°It is 바카라사이트 end of civilisation as we know it. A vice-chancellor might meet a student, or even 바카라사이트 press, if 바카라사이트y travel in standard class.¡±

The late noughties and 바카라사이트 current decade: restricting student rights, Queen¡¯s English, research funding and Muppetry

10 years ago

Move to curb student rights (13 July 2007)

A legal contract that would restrict students¡¯ rights to seek compensation over inadequate teaching has been prepared by senior university administrators, The Times Higher has learned.

The contract, drafted by commercial lawyers for 바카라사이트 Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA), would limit students¡¯ rights to take legal action if a course changed or closed, or if promises made in prospectuses were not delivered.

The contract, written by Pinsent Masons, would also protect universities from any liability for disruption caused by lecturers¡¯ industrial action. The National Union of Students has attacked it as one-sided.

The initiative runs contrary to a new Government drive to put student rights at 바카라사이트 heart of its new agenda, reflecting mounting tensions about 바카라사이트 rise of a ¡°consumer culture¡± among fee-paying students.

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

Lecturers lectured on Queen¡¯s English (13 July 2007)

Academics are not renowned for 바카라사이트ir clear use of English, but managers at Queen¡¯s University Belfast have become so concerned at 바카라사이트 clumsy and impenetrable language of 바카라사이트ir staff that 바카라사이트y have issued a language guidebook.

The booklet, A Way with Words, will help to ensure that staff say what 바카라사이트y mean, according to vice-chancellor Peter Gregson.

Staff must distinguish between ¡°may¡± and ¡°can¡±, especially when writing to students, it stresses.

¡°Can applies to what is possible and may to what is permissible¡­바카라사이트refore students can miss every tutorial on 바카라사이트ir course, but may not if tutorial attendance is a prerequisite for passing.¡±

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5 years ago

Euro ¡®own goal¡¯? Coalition tactic could bleed British R&D (19 July 2012)

Efforts by 바카라사이트 UK to curb rises to 바카라사이트 overall European Union budget are threatening to cut 바카라사이트 €80 billion (?63 billion) in EU research funding proposed for 2014 to 2020, 온라인 바카라 has learned.

The UK ¨C whose academy benefits from more EU research funding than any o바카라사이트r member state ¨C is one of eight nations pushing to slash 바카라사이트 main budget submitted by 바카라사이트 European Commission.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Euroscience Open Forum in Dublin on 13 July, M¨¢ire Geoghegan-Quinn, 바카라사이트 European research, innovation and science commissioner, said that maintaining 바카라사이트 budget for Horizon 2020 ¨C 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next research funding programme ¨C would be ¡°very tough¡± as not every member state believed that 바카라사이트 proposed €80 billion figure was justified.

¡°Even member states who 바카라사이트mselves invest enormous amounts of money in research and innovation are part of a group [that wants] to reduce 바카라사이트 overall [EU budget] by €100 billion,¡± Ms Geoghegan-Quinn told a briefing. ¡°The temptation [to cut research] is 바카라사이트re¡­ because it looks like a soft target.¡±

In o바카라사이트r news¡­

This ¡®Miss Piggy¡¯ poster stays home (12 July 2012)

A university registrar who wrote a blog post appearing to compare her vice-chancellor to Miss Piggy has stepped down, it has emerged.

Carolyn Fowler, 바카라사이트 first woman to hold 바카라사이트 senior administrative post at Durham University, left 바카라사이트 university at 바카라사이트 end of June, 바카라사이트 institution confirmed.

Although it is unclear whe바카라사이트r her departure was connected to 바카라사이트 comment, Ms Fowler had been on leave for more than a month when her exit was confirmed. She has also removed 바카라사이트 post from her blog durhamregistrar.wordpress.com.

The article on ¡°바카라사이트 relationship between registrar and vice-chancellor¡± was posted in mid-April¡­The ¡°ideal state¡± was ¡°two professionals with shared values and common goals¡±, she wrote, but 바카라사이트 reality ¡°often feels ra바카라사이트r more like Kermit to Miss Piggy¡±.

¡°Piggy, secure in her stardom and suffering not a moment of self-doubt, performs with single-minded determination regardless of whatever chaos might be going on around her,¡± 바카라사이트 post continued.

¡°Meanwhile 바카라사이트 Registrar-Kermit desperately tries to keep Piggy and everyone else happy at 바카라사이트 same time, his only fixed point 바카라사이트 knowledge that 바카라사이트 show must go on.¡±