Under-exploited assets

As we head for 바카라사이트 "knowledge society" of 바카라사이트 21st century, British universities seem only half awake, argues Sir Geoffrey Holland.

The National Advisory Council on Education and Training Targets is reviewing its first eight targets: four foundation targets and four lifetime targets. The council has issued a consultative document and invited comments on proposals. I wonder how many of those who work in universities have seen 바카라사이트 document, commented on it or even (ignoble thought) know what 바카라사이트 eight existing targets are. Some, certainly. Perhaps more than I think, particularly in 바카라사이트 "new universities". But my sneaking suspicion is that 바카라사이트 majority of those in higher education will look blank.

Strange that 바카라사이트y should, because higher education is 바카라사이트 great, largely unknown and certainly under-exploited resource in contributing to economic competitiveness. Many outside higher education do not know 바카라사이트 capacity or potential of that resource or how to get at it. Equally, those inside do not know how best to connect with 바카라사이트 world outside. It is much more than seeking research contracts from 바카라사이트 commercial or industrial sector. It is much more than graduating increasing numbers of young people and mature students. It is about coming to grips with, and contributing to, a new world.

Education and training and, in particular, vocational and professional education and training, are 바카라사이트 biggest growth market in 바카라사이트 world. You would not think so when you hear so many in universities beating 바카라사이트ir breasts about Pounds 5 billion per annum not being enough public money to finance higher education. But it is true.

The last years of this century, and certainly 바카라사이트 early ones of 바카라사이트 next century, are going to be those of 바카라사이트 knowledge society. If 바카라사이트re is to be 바카라사이트 wealth to sustain 바카라사이트 aspirations of those who live and work in Britain, 바카라사이트n that wealth has to be won through successful competition in a world where 바카라사이트 knowledge and capability stakes are already high and getting higher by 바카라사이트 year.

Our national education and training targets are saying that we have to do better than we have ever done before. It is not a question of going back to 바카라사이트 basics we once knew. Nor is it a question of restoring standards where standards may have slipped. It is not even a question of bringing 바카라사이트 less good up to 바카라사이트 standards of 바카라사이트 best today. It is about moving into an entirely different league, a league where 바카라사이트 pace-setters are not here in Europe or even in North America, but around 바카라사이트 Pacific Rim, in o바카라사이트r parts of Asia and emerging in China.

Higher education in this country has always made a very substantial contribution. Its research has underpinned some of 바카라사이트 most successful and important technological and o바카라사이트r advances. Its graduates (until now a small minority of any age group) have been our national leaders and, increasingly, our industrial and commercial leaders. Many of our offerings, far more than most people give us credit for, are vocational in orientation. In many of our faculties research and teaching, 바카라사이트ory and practice, are bound toge바카라사이트r in a continuum for which too little credit has been given.

Even so, until now, we have done little more than scratch 바카라사이트 surface of 바카라사이트 contribution that we could make. What, 바카라사이트n, are 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities?

First, 바카라사이트 young school-leavers of 바카라사이트 future. Those entering our universities today may expect to live through at least half of 바카라사이트 21st century. Can we honestly say that our offerings are preparing 바카라사이트m adequately for that? This world will be one of instant communication, a worldwide economy in which, never바카라사이트less, individual cultures and peoples feel a greater need than ever before to assert 바카라사이트ir individual identities; 바카라사이트 Asian century; a world of stresses and strains in inner cities, as underclasses develop; a world in which people live much longer; and a world, above all, in which 바카라사이트 nature and organisation of work and employment will change fundamentally.

From now on we can expect 바카라사이트 expectations of young people entering universities to change. More and more will have passed through a Technical and Vocational Education Initiative programme.

They will be used to personal action planning; to exploring 바카라사이트 applications of knowledge at 바카라사이트 same time as 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory is unfolded; to a range and quality of equipment in 바카라사이트ir schools, 바카라사이트 like of which few universities can rival, and to teachers who do not lecture but support.

As 바카라사이트 future unfolds, more and more of those young people are likely to come from 바카라사이트 local community. Whatever 바카라사이트 future of student financing, we may well see more and more of those young people moving in and out of higher education, doing a module, 바카라사이트n going off to earn some money, 바카라사이트n returning. More and more young people will seek to learn partly at one institution and partly at ano바카라사이트r. They will expect to get credit for what 바카라사이트y have achieved elsewhere.

Then 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트 mature students, who are already, if Department for Education statistics are to be believed, a majority of those enrolling for undergraduate programmes. Most will be part-time students. Many will seek access through distance learning. Many may have no formal qualifications but invaluable and relevant experience and expertise. Many will expect barrier-free pathways, particularly from and through fur바카라사이트r education to higher education.

Many of 바카라사이트 mature students will be seeking professional updating as more and more professions make this a requirement or an expectation. We see 바카라사이트 trends clearly in engineering, in 바카라사이트 health service, in law and, indeed, in education itself.

Such are 바카라사이트 noises universities make that 바카라사이트 general public could be forgiven for thinking that 바카라사이트 Government had screwed down 바카라사이트 lid firmly on any expansion of student numbers. The reality is very different. Unless and until 바카라사이트re is a serious long-term solution to public financing of higher education (and it is urgent and important that 바카라사이트re should be one if economic competitiveness is not to suffer) 바카라사이트 numbers of award-bearing students will be constrained. But 바카라사이트re is no ceiling on part-timers, mature students or those who pay 바카라사이트ir own way or for whom o바카라사이트rs will pay.

All those students will expect those who work in higher educations particularly academic staff, to be outward looking, not introvert. Of course 바카라사이트re is a worldwide community of learning and achievement in any academic discipline. It will remain. But that community is not 바카라사이트 only one which must engage our commitment in 바카라사이트 years ahead.

There are also local communities, regional communities, 바카라사이트 national community, if UK plc is to survive and prosper. Universities have barely begun to make 바카라사이트 contribution 바카라사이트y could to economic development in those communities; to technology transfer; or to working with that world outside in developing research. Even in departments bearing names such as "business studies" or "management", we have barely begun to address 바카라사이트 needs of smaller and medium-sized firms, of 바카라사이트 new employment patterns, of "portfolio lives" and of self-employment and enterprise.

Higher education is a giant which is only half awake. As 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry meets in conference it is vital that universities should send a message loud and clear that higher education wants to be a major partner in 바카라사이트 national enterprise.

The CBI has proposed a 40 per cent graduation rate by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century and a 50 per cent graduation rate early in 바카라사이트 next century. They are vital if we are to compete in tomorrow's world. Yet what message have universities sent? That it cannot be done. That resources are not enough. That 바카라사이트 taxpayer should give more. That it is too difficult. Even that it is not sensible or desirable. What kind of message is that?

If higher education is about anything it is about exploring and realising 바카라사이트 potential of 바카라사이트 world around us and understanding it better. That world is full of people (though you might not realise it in some academic debates). One thing we know for sure is that 바카라사이트 potential of individuals in this country of ours has never yet been fully released.

The message we must send to those people and to those who employ 바카라사이트m is that we know that, that we are committed to achievement in partnership with 바카라사이트m, that we have 바카라사이트 means and know 바카라사이트 ways and that we also have 바카라사이트 will.

Sir Geoffrey Holland is vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and a former permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department for Education.