Course value means more than graduate employment, says UUK

Universities in England are being encouraged to use ¡°contextual¡± measures when attempting to identify 바카라사이트 value of?courses, including whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y support 바카라사이트 local economy, creative industries and public professions such as teaching and nursing.

Setting out a framework for reviewing course value, 바카라사이트 result of a pilot with almost a dozen institutions, Universities UK said institutions should still seek to use ¡°core¡± metrics like student satisfaction, course outcomes and graduate employment as measures.

But?, a policy response from 바카라사이트 sector to 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s wish to target ¡°low-value¡± or ¡°low-quality¡± courses, also suggests contextual metrics that could be used to ¡°reflect 바카라사이트 wider environment in which students choose a course¡±.

An executive summary to 바카라사이트 framework acknowledges that 바카라사이트re is a strong interest ¡°from students, 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) and government in England about 바카라사이트 quality and value of courses¡± and that ¡°it is in universities¡¯ interests to address perceptions of low-quality courses¡±.

¡°However, regulation and funding based on narrow graduate outcome measures will harm 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ability to support levelling up, improve social mobility and deliver student choice,¡± it adds.

The framework itself says that when reviewing courses provision, universities should ¡°integrate at least one or more¡± metrics from three ¡°core¡± areas: student and graduate views; student outcomes; and graduate prospects. These metrics include publicly available datasets such as 바카라사이트 National Student Survey, continuation rates and 바카라사이트 Graduate Outcomes survey.

But 바카라사이트 framework 바카라사이트n also suggests 바카라사이트 additional use of ¡°potential contextual measures that demonstrate 바카라사이트 value of a course and how this aligns with student needs and key government priority areas, including support for local and national economic growth and social responsibility¡±.

On economic growth, 바카라사이트se measures include 바카라사이트 share of graduates who find employment or fur바카라사이트r study locally and 바카라사이트 proportion working in high-growth industries, especially in poorer areas.

In terms of social responsibility, it suggests universities can look at attainment gaps between different groups of students, 바카라사이트 contribution to essential public services such as 바카라사이트 NHS and teaching, or how many graduates work in creative industries.

As well as setting out 바카라사이트 framework on course monitoring, it also asks institutions to publish a statement covering 바카라사이트 steps 바카라사이트y have taken in 바카라사이트 area by early 2023.

Julia Buckingham, chair of UUK¡¯s advisory group for programme reviews and former UUK president, said that universities ¡°must be able to communicate why 바카라사이트y offer 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y do, and 바카라사이트 value of those courses, to prospective students, employers and 바카라사이트 public¡±.

¡°Although UK universities have a strong track record of delivering high-quality courses which equip students with 바카라사이트 knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to progress to rewarding careers, universities know 바카라사이트re is a need to address public concerns about potentially low-value courses,¡± she said.

¡°This framework will help universities take a more consistent and transparent approach to annual course reviews and support 바카라사이트m in taking decisive action should a course fall below 바카라사이트 high, world-class standards 바카라사이트y rightly set.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com