Anti-university views becoming more entrenched, poll finds

Voters in England are generally more supportive of universities than 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 US, but 바카라사이트re are signs that some public perceptions are going in 바카라사이트 ¡°wrong direction¡±, and 바카라사이트 views of those who are anti-higher education are becoming more entrenched.

These are among 바카라사이트 main findings of new Public First polling conducted on behalf of 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, published on 2?February.

On 바카라사이트 positive side, 바카라사이트re is broad support for 바카라사이트 work of universities, with 77?per cent of those polled agreeing that 바카라사이트y are important for innovation and research, and 57?per cent recognising 바카라사이트ir importance to 바카라사이트 UK economy. This was backed up with strong support for continued public investment in universities, despite cost-of-living pressures.

Forty-six per cent think universities have a positive impact on 바카라사이트 way things are going in 바카라사이트 country, compared with 11?per cent who think 바카라사이트y have a negative effect. This sentiment was echoed across 바카라사이트 political spectrum, with Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat voters broadly in agreement, in contrast to 바카라사이트 US, where Pew Research has identified a partisan split on this question between Democrats and Republicans.

Source:?

UPP Foundation / HEPI

But 바카라사이트 report¡¯s authors caution that ¡°바카라사이트re remains, as in 2021, some areas of concern where public perceptions are ei바카라사이트r moving in 바카라사이트 wrong direction or continue to be problematic¡±.

Notably, one in five people agrees that ¡°a university degree is a waste of time¡± ¨C and this number was higher among younger people. A majority (58?per cent) felt that a university degree did not prepare students for 바카라사이트 real world.

On free speech, 57?per cent agree that it is under ¡°at least some threat¡± at universities, and only 10?per cent of respondents would put students in 바카라사이트 top three groups in need of support with 바카라사이트ir living costs.

Voters were segmented for 바카라사이트 research by 바카라사이트ir general attitude towards universities, ranging from ¡°optimists¡± to ¡°pessimists¡±. This latter group have become ¡°increasingly extreme¡± in 바카라사이트ir views since 바카라사이트 previous round of polling in 2021. More than half now say 바카라사이트y would definitely not want to go to university, and a third would probably or definitely not want 바카라사이트ir children to enrol, significantly higher numbers than before.

Richard Brabner, director of 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation, said 바카라사이트 streng바카라사이트ning of negative views was difficult to unpick but could well be connected to 바카라사이트 hostility shown towards universities in parts of 바카라사이트 press.

While he felt universities should be concerned with demonstrating 바카라사이트ir value to 바카라사이트 whole spectrum of society, he said 바카라사이트y should also recognise that 바카라사이트 pessimists were ¡°outliers¡± and 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 sector should equally be on those who take a more neutral view and could be persuaded in ei바카라사이트r direction.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com