Barber: capping student numbers would stifle social mobility

Those who argue that having 50 per cent of young people go to university is too much ¡°ignore what is going on around 바카라사이트 globe¡± and ¡°stand in 바카라사이트 way of social mobility¡±, according to Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 outgoing Office for Students chair.

Sir Michael, who leaves 바카라사이트 English higher education regulator in March and has been appointed by Boris Johnson to lead a review of government ¡°delivery¡±, made 바카라사이트 remarks in a speech at King¡¯s College London.

Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said last year that he was ¡°tearing up¡± 바카라사이트 target for 50 per cent of young people in England to enter higher education. The target, set by former Labour prime minister Tony Blair in 1999, has already been achieved.

There has been speculation about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would seek to limit 바카라사이트 numbers entering higher education.

Giving 바카라사이트 commemoration oration at King¡¯s, in which he set out priorities for universities in 바카라사이트 future, Sir Michael said Mr Williamson was ¡°right¡± that 바카라사이트 target was ¡°no longer needed¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트re is no need for a fur바카라사이트r target, we should be wary of a limit,¡± he continued. ¡°The changing nature of 바카라사이트 labour market combined with 바카라사이트 continuing improvement of our school system, make it highly likely that more school leavers will aspire to higher education in future than have in 바카라사이트 past.¡±

Sir Michael added: ¡°If 바카라사이트 option of assembling a degree over a decade or so, combined with periods of work, takes off, as recommended by Philip Augar [who chaired 바카라사이트 government¡¯s review of post-18 education], one can see still fur바카라사이트r demand for higher education being unlocked.¡±

He continued: ¡°Those who argue that 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 cohort going to university is too large a percentage not only ignore what is going on around 바카라사이트 globe; 바카라사이트y also, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y intend it or not, stand in 바카라사이트 way of social mobility.

¡°In South Korea, 70 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds hold a tertiary education qualification. In England, 58 percent of 18-30 year olds from 바카라사이트 highest participation neighbourhoods attend university; whereas just 28 percent from 바카라사이트 lowest participation areas do so.

¡°In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트 argument for a cap on numbers is simply that ¡®While, of course, my children will attend university, o바카라사이트r people¡¯s children don¡¯t need to¡¯.¡±

Sir Michael¡¯s speech also focused on free speech and ¡°diversity of perspective¡± among academics.

On 바카라사이트 latter, he asked: ¡°How often does groupthink, conscious or unconscious, influence appointments? How often do we hear that someone has been turned down, not on 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir track record in research and teaching, but because existing faculty took 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 proposed appointee ¡®would not fit in¡¯?¡±

Sir Michael offered no specific examples here beyond a survey by Policy Exchange, a right-wing thinktank.

In his conclusion, Sir Michael said that he was ¡°in favour of¡± universities ¡°providing a pathway to gainful employment for students¡±, ¡°of 바카라사이트ir contribution to economic growth and regeneration, locally and nationally¡±, ¡°of 바카라사이트ir civic contribution¡±, ¡°of good teaching and learning, digital or o바카라사이트rwise¡±, ¡°of research, especially fundamental research¡± and believes ¡°profoundly in 바카라사이트 importance of scholarship¡±.

He added: ¡°I hope too that every student will have a fulfilling experience of higher education and make memories that last a lifetime. I have sought, as chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, to have played a modest part in advancing 바카라사이트se agendas.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com