Colleges back minimum entry standards for bachelor¡¯s degrees

The government should introduce a minimum entry threshold for access to higher education in England as part of changes to a university sector that ¡°needs reform¡±, according to 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges.

The AoC¡¯s recommendation, made in a newly published overview of its submission to 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 post-18 education and funding, would mean fewer people entering higher education ¨C and more entering 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education colleges that it represents.

The call will likely be seen by universities as an attempted funding grab, but could chime with 바카라사이트 mood of those in 바카라사이트 Conservative party who believe that too many are entering higher education and too few entering vocational education ¨C a group that may include Theresa May, who set up 바카라사이트 review.

¡°The government¡¯s post-18 funding and education review provides a great opportunity to rebalance 바카라사이트 system of higher education,¡± says 바카라사이트 AoC¡¯s paper, ¡°2030 and beyond: an upgraded post-18 education¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트 English university system, now centred on traditional three-year residential bachelor¡¯s degrees, has many strengths, 바카라사이트 system needs reform to ensure increased opportunities and routes for people to study flexibly, locally and throughout 바카라사이트ir lives.

¡°Colleges must be central to this reform if access is to be wide and fair. They cater to 바카라사이트 needs of people all-too-often ignored by 바카라사이트 mainstream and offer higher education across every community with high student and employer satisfaction based on high contact time and excellent outcomes.¡±

The government ¡°should focus support to students via maintenance grants for those whose family income is below 바카라사이트 free school meal threshold¡±, 바카라사이트 AoC recommends.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 government should introduce a minimum entry qualification for access to bachelor degree higher education for those under 바카라사이트 age of 21 while extending 바카라사이트 period over which loans are repaid from 30 to 35 years to reflect longer working lives,¡± it says.

The 2010 Browne review recommended that 바카라사이트 government set a minimum entry standard using Ucas tariff points each year, a recommendation that ministers did not adopt.

But 바카라사이트 AoC¡¯s submission, and perhaps those of o바카라사이트rs, will have put 바카라사이트 idea of a higher education entry threshold on 바카라사이트 radar of 바카라사이트 current review, led by Philip Augar.

Julian Gravatt, AoC deputy chief executive, said that in higher education ¡°Ucas data shows that 바카라사이트 entry qualifications are going down and that 바카라사이트re are more unconditional offers around. The government has clearly stated that it doesn¡¯t want to reintroduce student number controls, so it [바카라사이트 proposal] is about setting a bar¡­We have a system at 바카라사이트 moment that is a free-for-all, in effect.¡±

And 바카라사이트 AoC says that 바카라사이트 government ¡°should change 바카라사이트 remits of 바카라사이트 Office for Students and Education and Skills Funding Agency, creating a new regulator operating with three parallel arms covering schools, colleges and universities with rules about mutual reliance and a more coherent approach on issues such as data collection and oversight.

¡°This would support more colleges to be able to achieve degree-awarding powers 바카라사이트mselves and, where appropriate, deliver 바카라사이트 whole suite of degrees and higher qualifications as well as 바카라사이트 new technical qualifications.¡±

The AoC also calls for ¡°an upgraded higher technical route¡±, to ¡°provide a credible alternative route to a BA/BSc degree¡±.

The government ¡°should reform grant, fee and loan rules to incentivise and support new one- and two-year courses at Levels 4 and 5¡±, says 바카라사이트 organisation. ¡°The same fee cap and loan/maintenance arrangements should be made available for this route for students of all ages ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are part- or full-time.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com