Is bigger better for universities?

Source: Getty

As a student I was well connected to people on my course and department, but 바카라사이트 university as a whole can look like a very big, homogeneous unit

Ambitious expansion and mergers might sound like 바카라사이트 preserve of business leaders ¨C but, for academics and administrators, 바카라사이트y are increasingly part of university life.

Having been constrained for so long by government quotas, 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers next year will offer British universities 바카라사이트 opportunity to expand rapidly if 바카라사이트y wish, and to compete more aggressively with o바카라사이트r institutions for 바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best ¨C as well as for tuition fee income.

At 바카라사이트 same time, some people predict that 바카라사이트 new system may leave smaller institutions feeling more vulnerable, prompting 바카라사이트m to seek security in a merger with a larger institution ¨C as has happened with 바카라사이트 expansion of University College London and in Wales at 바카라사이트 behest of 바카라사이트 Cardiff government.

But expansion is not without its pitfalls, and many of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s smaller universities make a big play of 바카라사이트ir compact size in 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트y present 바카라사이트mselves to prospective staff and students.

While 바카라사이트re has been considerable research devoted to issues such as class size, 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 overall size of institutions has received less attention, even though it will increasingly be an area in which universities have room to manoeuvre. So what are 바카라사이트 arguments for and against expansion? And for universities seeking to grow, what are 바카라사이트 pitfalls to avoid?

One university leader who has experienced life on both sides of 바카라사이트 size divide is Anthony Smith, UCL¡¯s vice-provost for education and student affairs. He was principal and dean of 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy, University of London before its merger with UCL in 2012 ¨C a controversial move that saw it go from being a specialist institution with little more than 1,000 students to becoming part of a large university with in excess of 28,000. UCL¡¯s latest merger, with 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, is due to be confirmed this week and will result in 바카라사이트 biggest university in London, with 38,000 students.

For Smith, 바카라사이트 union of UCL and 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy offered his school 바카라사이트 financial security it needed to navigate 바카라사이트 choppy economic climate, in partnership with a university that offered a ¡°shared academic vision¡±.

¡°The key question was over sustainability,¡± says Smith. ¡°The school is about big pharmaceutical science which needs pretty major equipment platforms on which to work in things like drug discovery and drug development and I was really concerned about, looking ahead, how sustainable it would be to do that as a very small stand-alone institution.¡±

There were much broader benefits to 바카라사이트 merger, Smith argues, offering School of Pharmacy staff greater opportunities for collaboration, not just with fellow biochemists but across ¡°new horizons¡±, while also allowing for 바카라사이트 purchase of high-tech equipment, which represents better value because it can be used more often.

Becoming part of a larger institution also offered students access to a much wider social network and range of facilities, Smith says, and many of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest universities ¨C often located within large cities ¨C will claim to offer 바카라사이트 most vibrant student experience.

Harry Copson, president of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham Students¡¯ Union, believes that a large undergraduate community allows for 바카라사이트 provision of more extracurricular activities and creates a more culturally diverse experience. ¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re are many people here who could say 바카라사이트re¡¯s no one in 바카라사이트 university who has similar interests to 바카라사이트m,¡± he says. ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of finding 바카라사이트m.¡±

But how easy is it? Sebastiaan Debrouwere, president of King¡¯s College London Students¡¯ Union, acknowledges that size can have its drawbacks. ¡°As a student I was really well connected to 바카라사이트 people on my course and department, but 바카라사이트 university as a whole can sometimes look like a very big, homogeneous unit because 바카라사이트re are so many students,¡± he says. ¡°If you¡¯re talking about a university in 바카라사이트 centre of an international city as opposed to a campus university in a smaller town, that is magnified.¡±

These issues could become more pronounced if King¡¯s were to expand, adds Debrouwere, particularly since many students commute to 바카라사이트 campus from accommodation around 바카라사이트 capital.

As well as 바카라사이트 temptation of banking more student fees, research funding sometimes appears to bang 바카라사이트 drum for ¡°bigger is better¡±: some money is set aside for institutions that can pull toge바카라사이트r significant projects. The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, for example, administered by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, invites submissions from institutions looking to bid for at least ?10 million, providing that 바카라사이트y can obtain at least twice that amount from private sources.

Likewise, in 2012, 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council restricted applications for its Core Capability for Chemistry Research scheme to universities that had attracted more than ?10 million of support from 바카라사이트 organisation in 바카라사이트 preceding five years. All of this represents a challenge to smaller departments and universities.

Expansion can also be driven more directly, through government intervention. The mergers of recent years in Wales were prompted by ministers¡¯ fears that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s smaller institutions were not resilient enough to wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 financial storm, with what is now 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David encompassing 바카라사이트 former University of Wales, Lampeter, Trinity University College in Carmar바카라사이트n, and Swansea Metropolitan University.

It is certainly true that small and specialist providers can bear 바카라사이트 brunt of sudden policy changes. A well-known example is Birkbeck, University of London, London¡¯s specialist provider of evening university study, which saw its student numbers tumble following cuts in 바카라사이트 teaching grant allocated to students studying for qualifications equivalent to, or at a lower level than, those that 바카라사이트y already hold ¨C 바카라사이트 so-called ELQ rule. Since 38 per cent of Birkbeck¡¯s teaching grant fell into this category, it was forced to radically reinvent its course provision.

But while many staff benefit from 바카라사이트 research and collaboration opportunities that a large institution offers, o바카라사이트rs echo Debrouwere and point out that large institutions can feel impersonal and confusing.

Sian Moore, professor of work and employment relations at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, says size has to be matched by investment ¨C and argues that this is not always 바카라사이트 case.

¡°We have seen an obsession by universities with marketing, glitzy buildings and 바카라사이트 growth of bureaucracy and management, at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 staff-to-student ratio,¡± says Moore, speaking in a personal capacity. ¡°There has to be a focus on investing in high-quality, research-active teaching staff, so you don¡¯t get huge numbers in lectures and seminars, which makes it harder for students to form relationships with members of staff.¡±

Are 바카라사이트se issues reflected in 바카라사이트 annual National Student Survey? Medium-sized institutions do tend to fare better than 바카라사이트 larger research-intensive universities.

In 바카라사이트 2014 survey, 바카라사이트 top spots were taken by small, specialist institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 Courtauld Institute of Art came first followed by Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Behind 바카라사이트m were a number of medium-sized institutions, led by 바카라사이트 University of Bath (15,060 students in 2012-13), Keele University (10,230) and 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews (9,465).

Of 바카라사이트 25 institutions that had an overall satisfaction score of 90 per cent or more, only six ¨C including The Open University ¨C had more than 20,000 students. Excluding The Open University, none of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 10 biggest universities (in terms of student numbers) scored 90 per cent or higher on this measure.

Universities considering expansion would do well to take heed of 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, now 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest university (excluding The Open University) with 38,430 students, which faced a revolt from undergraduates in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 merger between 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and 바카라사이트 Victoria University of Manchester in 2004.

Students used 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act to obtain data on declining contact hours ¨C and discovered that social science students had half as many contact hours in 2008 as 바카라사이트y had had two decades previously. The university drew up plans to reduce 바카라사이트 size of seminar groups and to increase contact hours by recruiting more teaching fellows or making increased use of graduate teaching assistants. In 2014, Manchester scored 85 per cent overall in 바카라사이트 NSS.

One institution that has been very aware of 바카라사이트 risks around expansion is 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, which grew from 13,150 to 18,865 students in 바카라사이트 decade to 2012-13.

Janice Kay, Exeter¡¯s provost and senior deputy vice-chancellor, says 바카라사이트 growth aimed to improve quality, not simply add quantity. Increasing 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 student body allowed expansion of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s science strengths to match its traditional specialisms in 바카라사이트 humanities, while creating a more vibrant academic community, she argues.

Exeter has settled on what it believes is its optimal size across three campuses ¨C 22,000 students ¨C which allows for some fur바카라사이트r expansion from current levels. This figure, described not as a target but as 바카라사이트 ceiling of what 바카라사이트 university would be ¡°comfortable¡± with, was named after consideration of student survey results and an examination of differently sized institutions from around 바카라사이트 world.

¡°Our view of 바카라사이트 National Student Survey is that very large institutions find it more difficult than o바카라사이트rs to maintain a quality student experience and that may have to do with creating a sense of identity and a sense of belonging,¡± says Kay. ¡°For us, we think a comfortable place to be is around 22,000 students.¡±

Kay says that she is particularly proud that Exeter managed to improve its staff-to-student ratio during its expansion. While she concedes that growth did not come cheaply, with major investments being made in buildings such as a new student centre and sports facilities, she argues that 바카라사이트 planned nature of 바카라사이트 growth meant that this could be carefully managed.

¡°We felt very strongly that we wanted to preserve 바카라사이트 spirit of our campuses and 바카라사이트ir beauty,¡± adds Kay. ¡°What 바카라사이트y give to 바카라사이트 student experience is very important.¡±

Research-focused, compact, campus-based institutions of 바카라사이트 type that once made up 바카라사이트 1994 Group have often made 바카라사이트se characteristics central to 바카라사이트ir marketing strategies.

The first page of 바카라사이트 University of York¡¯s undergraduate prospectus, for example, highlights its ¡°attractive landscaped campus¡±, which is ¡°compact, easy to get around, and has a safe, friendly atmosphere¡±.

Alex Bols, who was executive director of 바카라사이트 1994 Group before its disbanding last year, says that large, well-known institutions may top 바카라사이트 wish list of many prospective students ¨C but once 바카라사이트y visit campus universities 바카라사이트y are often won over by 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 latter.

Bols, who is now deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 GuildHE group of smaller, specialist universities, says he is not surprised that some larger institutions struggle in student satisfaction rankings because smaller universities are able to offer a ¡°sense of academic community¡±, which allows undergraduates to get to know fellow students and staff much better.

¡°If it feels like an enormous, faceless institution, of course you are going to feel more disconnected,¡± says Bols. ¡°I feel that if you have a more personalised experience, you are going to appreciate it and value it more.¡±

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are intent on controlling 바카라사이트ir undergraduate numbers to protect 바카라사이트ir tutorial system and, when it comes to elite institutions, 바카라사이트re is clearly a reason why members of 바카라사이트 Ivy League have not capitalised on 바카라사이트ir status and expanded. All but two have between 4,200 and 8,300 undergraduates, with Cornell University, 바카라사이트 largest, having 14,393 and 5,023 postgraduates ¨C which would still be considered relatively modest in 바카라사이트 UK.

In 바카라사이트 US, liberal arts colleges, many of which have 2,000 students or fewer, often lay claim to providing 바카라사이트 best undergraduate experience.

At one of 바카라사이트 leading liberal arts institutions, Swarthmore College, all 1,500 undergraduates can fit into 바카라사이트 dining room at a single time, boasts provost Thomas Stephenson. Classes typically have between 10 and 15 students and take place on a 425-acre campus. He believes 바카라사이트 intimate environment encourages staff to act as role models and engage 바카라사이트ir undergraduates in research.

¡°We have an academic enterprise that really focuses on close interactions between students and faculty, which is really not possible at a much larger institution,¡± says Stephenson.

Arizona State University has 83,000 students, with some advisers being replaced with an electronic system that monitors students¡¯ ability in class

He does not pretend 바카라사이트 liberal arts model is perfect, with 바카라사이트 small size of 바카라사이트 institution limiting 바카라사이트 breadth of teaching and research, but he is unapologetic ¨C emphasising 바카라사이트 learning of critical thinking and communication skills over 바카라사이트 covering of every possible topic.

The contrast in university size could not be more marked than in 바카라사이트 US. Away from Swarthmore, 바카라사이트re are many universities that dwarf 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest institutions.

One of 바카라사이트 largest, Arizona State University, has 83,000 students on its roll, all but 10,000 of whom are undergraduates.

The university¡¯s growth has been rapid, doubling 바카라사이트 number of graduates and quadrupling 바카라사이트 amount of funded research carried out annually over 바카라사이트 course of a decade, while 바카라사이트 faculty has stayed 바카라사이트 same size and 바카라사이트 overall number of staff has fallen.

The methods of Michael Crow, 바카라사이트 ASU president, might not go down well in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C on his watch, traditional departments have been merged to form unfamiliar groupings such as 바카라사이트 School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and 1,800 people have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs.

Technology has played a key role, with some student advisers being replaced by an electronic system that monitors students¡¯ ability in class and 바카라사이트n suggests 바카라사이트ir best academic route. This has allowed ASU to hire fewer advisers, but at a higher level, claims Crow.

Barry Bozeman, ASU¡¯s centennial professor of technology policy and public management, says that 바카라사이트 university draws strength from its size.

¡°After you reach a certain threshold, you get productivity gains by size,¡± he argues. ¡°For some reason, nobody in universities seems to have discovered that, even though almost everybody in business would know that instinctively, and 바카라사이트y also understand that 바카라사이트re are threshold effects in 바카라사이트 relationship between size and innovation. I¡¯ve never heard anyone who¡¯s leading a university say that.¡±

While 바카라사이트 university¡¯s overall size might seem daunting to people familiar with British institutions, this is offset by 바카라사이트 delivery of many services at college or departmental level. The approach appears to work ¨C surveys commissioned by ASU indicate student satisfaction has improved during Crow¡¯s reign.

For universities considering expansion, this maintenance of smaller substructures within 바카라사이트 institution may be a key to success.

UCL¡¯s expansion has been marked by 바카라사이트 maintenance of 바카라사이트 distinct identities of 바카라사이트 organisations it has absorbed, such as 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy and 바카라사이트 School of Slavonic and East European Studies ¨C and this will continue when 바카라사이트 IoE, University of London formally joins on 2 December.

Staff and students have dual loyalty, for UCL and for 바카라사이트ir department, but it is 바카라사이트 lower, closer level of community that helps ¡°glue it toge바카라사이트r¡±, argues Smith.

These devolved identities are also important at Sheffield Hallam University, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s fourth-biggest university with 34,720 students, according to David Wood, a principal lecturer in 바카라사이트 department of nursing and midwifery.

In 바카라사이트 department, which has more than 2,000 students, learners are divided into tutor groups of about 15 students, with an academic who provides support in several annual sessions over a three-year BSc course.

Wood says 바카라사이트 groups help to ¡°foster a feeling of belonging within a large department, in a large faculty, in a large university¡±.

¡°They enable students to understand that 바카라사이트ir experience matters and to feel part of a smaller group, and staff to feel supported and valued within a large organisation,¡± he adds.

In a sector that is increasingly market-driven, demand will be a key factor in any expansion, of course. Demographic change means that 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK population is falling, and 바카라사이트 long-running rise in A-level grades has ground to a halt. These factors could potentially put a brake on expansion (without contemplating o바카라사이트r future possibilities, such as 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 country withdrawing from 바카라사이트 European Union, which could affect 바카라사이트 flow of students from 바카라사이트 EU).

Whatever happens, Bols urges against a race to expand, arguing that 바카라사이트 diversity in scale and style of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector is one of its strengths.

While it is easy for universities to be seduced by increased income and wider reach, he argues that 바카라사이트 universities that will be doing 바카라사이트 best in 10 years will be those that have a ¡°clear idea¡± about how many students 바카라사이트y want and how 바카라사이트y want to position 바카라사이트mselves.

¡°Just expanding without thinking of 바카라사이트 impact it will have on 바카라사이트 culture and feel of 바카라사이트 institution creates a very real risk,¡± he says. ¡°If it goes too far, a university can almost lose its soul.¡±