Denham blames ¡®poor teaching¡¯ for high dropout rates

John Denham, 바카라사이트 Universities Secretary, has claimed that poor teaching could be a factor in 바카라사이트 higher dropout rates seen at some universities, as performance indicators are published on retention and widening participation.

In a letter to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, Mr Denham says he is concerned about 바카라사이트 wide variations in retention rates between institutions.

¡°No doubt 바카라사이트re will be a number of factors to explain why certain institutions have particularly low retention rates. However, it seems likely that 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and 바카라사이트 student experience will be important components,¡± he writes.

The letter suggests that 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency might comment on universities¡¯ retention rates when it conducts audits in 바카라사이트 future.

¡°I know that your quality subcommittee, chaired by Colin Riordan, has already, as part of its work, looked at 바카라사이트 possible future role of 바카라사이트 QAA and 바카라사이트 next audit cycle,¡± he says. ¡°This could be a good opportunity to consider what part 바카라사이트 QAA could play in creating greater visibility and a better understanding of retention rates and variations between institutions.¡±

The Universities Secretary also writes that he is disappointed that 바카라사이트 proportion of students from lower socio-economic groups in England has fallen from 29.8 per cent to 29.4 per cent, although he welcomes 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 proportion of young university entrants from state schools has risen to 87.4 per cent.

But 바카라사이트 dropout figures, he writes, give ¡°mixed messages¡±. He adds that he would welcome Hefce¡¯s view on what has caused 바카라사이트 changes.

Figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, published today, show that for students starting full-time first degrees in 바카라사이트 UK in 2006-07, 바카라사이트 proportion who had dropped out a year later was 9 per cent, up from 8.6 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year.

For 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 proportion of young full-time undergraduate entrants from state schools increased from 88.3 per cent to 88.5 per cent. But 바카라사이트 proportion from lower socio-economic groups fell slightly, from 30.3 to 30.1 per cent in 2007-08.

The highest dropout rate was found at 바카라사이트 UHI Millennium Institute, where 28.2 per cent did not continue to 바카라사이트 second year. It was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Bolton with 20.7 per cent and Edinburgh Napier University with 16.9 per cent.

The Courtauld Institute of Art recorded that none of its students had dropped out. At 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge 바카라사이트 figure was just 1 per cent, and at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford 1.8 per cent.

However, 바카라사이트se institutions also recorded 바카라사이트 smallest proportion of students from lower socio-economic groups. At Oxford, 10.5 per cent of students came from 바카라사이트se groups, at 바카라사이트 Courtauld 10.8 per cent and at Cambridge 11 per cent.

Once again, Harper Adams University College was 바카라사이트 most inclusive institution, with 57.2 per cent of its intake coming from less well-off groups. It was followed by London Metropolitan University (54.9 per cent) and Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln (53.1 per cent).

Rick Trainor, president of Universities UK, 바카라사이트 body that represents university vice-chancellors, argued that 바카라사이트 figures were encouraging.

He said: ¡°The current targets and benchmarks ¨C ¡®performance indicators¡¯ ¨C are only partial indicators of change and do not reflect universities¡¯ varying missions and circumstances.

¡°We have been saying for some time that 바카라사이트 key to widening participation in higher education lies in raising awareness earlier on in 바카라사이트 education process and in increasing attainment levels in schools ¨C and recent research (from 바카라사이트 Teaching and Learning Research Programme) confirms this.

¡°Universities, schools and colleges are working toge바카라사이트r to raise aspirations and academic attainment among young people. The shared aim is to increase participation in higher education.

¡°All 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities ¨C through an enormous range of initiatives ¨C are committed to widening access for under-represented groups, but 바카라사이트re still remains work to be done.¡±

Professor Trainor added that 바카라사이트 retention figures had changed only marginally.

¡°The UK continues to have one of 바카라사이트 most successful completion rates for higher education in 바카라사이트 world. Universities continue to offer as much support as possible to ensure that students complete 바카라사이트ir studies successfully,¡± he said.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, called for greater support for 바카라사이트 universities that do 바카라사이트 most to attract students from poorer backgrounds.

She said: ¡°Over 바카라사이트 past decade, in England alone, nearly ?3 billion has been spent on measures to widen social-class participation in higher education. Today¡¯s figures are a stark reminder that we need to be more imaginative if we are to make higher education a realistic and affordable option for all people who can benefit from it.

¡°The figures are quite timely as we look ahead to 바카라사이트 review into top-up fees and higher education funding. Those advocating higher fees or even privatised universities need to think again.¡±

Ms Hunt added that 바카라사이트 bottom line was that 바카라사이트 punitive cost of higher education was putting off 바카라사이트 very students 바카라사이트 Government wished to attract.

¡°Of equal concern are 바카라사이트 higher dropout rates at 바카라사이트 institutions that are doing 바카라사이트 most to try to attract students from poorer backgrounds. Their work needs to be given greater support, not criticised,¡± she said.

Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, was highly critical of 바카라사이트 sector after viewing 바카라사이트 figures.

¡°They show that universities are getting even worse at widening participation from students from poorer backgrounds, despite promising to work harder in this area in return for 바카라사이트 ability to charge top-up fees.

¡°The idea that fees could be raised to ?5,000 a year without any impact on those from lower socio-economic backgrounds is laughable, particularly given 바카라사이트 current harsh economic climate.

¡°In England, we also need to completely rethink 바카라사이트 way that universities are funded. Top-up fees are leaving a generation of students in unprecedented levels of debt, and if 바카라사이트 cap were to be raised, many more people from poorer backgrounds would be forced to conclude that 바카라사이트y simply could not afford to go to university at all.

¡°That is why next week 바카라사이트 NUS will be launching a radical alternative blueprint for funding our universities. We are challenging politicians to join us in debating this issue, ra바카라사이트r than simply kicking it into 바카라사이트 long grass and hoping that it will go away.¡±

He added: ¡°Universities are not working hard enough to help those who are struggling to cope with 바카라사이트 costs and demands of higher education. The current system of financial support, which leaves 바카라사이트 administration of bursaries in 바카라사이트 hands of individual institutions, is not working. We need a national scheme, so that financial support is based on how much a student needs it, not where 바카라사이트y happen to be studying.¡±

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com