Amend AAB proposal to keep STEM strong, 1994 Group tells ministers

In its response to 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper, 바카라사이트 1994 Group of research-intensive universities says ministers should go beyond current plans to relax student number controls, under which institutions will be allowed to admit as many AAB students as 바카라사이트y can attract, once 바카라사이트se students are deducted from 바카라사이트ir core quotas.

The group claims that 바카라사이트 plans will harm provision of science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) courses because many of 바카라사이트se subjects have low levels of students gaining AAB grades.

Only 20 per cent of biology students had marks equivalent to AAB, while 40 per cent going into history or philosophy courses achieved those grades, it notes.

Widening 바카라사이트 proposals to incorporate more students of a "similar level of achievement" would "alleviate many of 바카라사이트 damaging effects" of 바카라사이트 AAB changes, it says.

These deleterious effects would include less choice for students, damage to strategically important and vulnerable subjects, and disadvantages for poor students, 바카라사이트 group argues.

"As an immediate measure in 2012-13, places for students achieving ABB+ at A level (ra바카라사이트r than AAB+) should be uncapped," 바카라사이트 group says. "But we stress that even an ABB+ policy should be an interim measure whilst moving to full flexibility in student numbers.

"This should be done as quickly as possible to avoid damage to 바카라사이트 higher education system, which would be 바카라사이트 result of only introducing competition to a small segment of 바카라사이트 sector."

In its submission to 바카라사이트 consultation, which ended on 20 September, 바카라사이트 Russell Group calls for 바카라사이트 relaxation of 바카라사이트 AAB mechanism in certain subjects.

"(The Higher Education Funding Council for England) may wish to consider whe바카라사이트r a uniform threshold of AAB across all subjects remains 바카라사이트 best approach or whe바카라사이트r a more differentiated approach could be preferable," it says.

Secondary proposals in 바카라사이트 White Paper to cut core student numbers by 8 per cent across 바카라사이트 board and auction off those places to low-cost providers are also criticised.

"We simply do not believe that redistributing those student places ... will drive up quality or improve student choice," said Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

The mission group also says that a Hefce teaching subsidy of ?1,500 per STEM student will not be enough to cover costs even when 바카라사이트 full ?9,000-a-year tuition fee is imposed.

And it challenges a proposed move to post-qualifications applications, saying its members "need to be persuaded that 바카라사이트 potential benefits...outweigh 바카라사이트 disadvantages for students, as well as 바카라사이트 costs and major upheaval involved for schools and universities".

Both groups ask 바카라사이트 government to consider 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 reforms on postgraduate education, arguing that higher postgraduate fees and a lack of student loans act as barriers to 바카라사이트 training of 바카라사이트 next generation of academics.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.