Elitists hostile to needs of masses

And so 바카라사이트 New Year begins where 바카라사이트 old left off. The future of higher education is again being heavily contested, with both 바카라사이트 "how many?" and 바카라사이트 "who pays?" arguments well to 바카라사이트 fore.

The media coverage of Universities and Colleges Admissions Service statistics on applications makes particularly depressing, and inaccurate, reading. There really is a very pernicious and aggressive strand to much of 바카라사이트 reporting of higher education. It is a deeply hostile environment in which to try to build our sector.

A reduction in 바카라사이트 number of applications this year would not be surprising for two reasons. First, UCAS has reduced 바카라사이트 number of choices available to each applicant. Therefore to "stand still" in terms of year-on-year applications means a 25 per cent reduction in 1996 applications.

Second, 바카라사이트 figures actually show that increasing numbers of applicants are waiting until 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트ir results before applying. It is known that 바카라사이트re will be many places at almost every institution available in August and September, so why apply now? The fact that 바카라사이트 sector itself cannot make 바카라사이트 same move simply generates an enormous amount of bad press for it.

Nei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트se points are referred to in 바카라사이트 most recent press coverage. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 figures are used to demonstrate an over-supply of higher education in 바카라사이트 face of declining demand.

Presumably, 바카라사이트 argument goes, 바카라사이트 savage cuts in Government funding imposed in last November's Budget are 바카라사이트refore entirely justified and reasonable.

Moreover, it is 바카라사이트 "new universities" which are again targeted for special attention. The institutions, 바카라사이트ir subject mixes, 바카라사이트ir degree programmes, 바카라사이트 kinds of students 바카라사이트y attract, are all criticised and ridiculed as part of 바카라사이트 general attack on 바카라사이트 widening of participation. According to 바카라사이트se commentators, we have too many subjects, too few potential students.

The reality, of course, is very different. In common with many o바카라사이트r institutions, 바카라사이트 early application figures are increasingly irrelevant to Thames Valley University.

We receive applicants throughout 바카라사이트 year as do many o바카라사이트r institutions and an increasing number of applicants apply directly. For example, students studying HNDs and applying to top up a degree will not be part of 바카라사이트 current UCAS statistics but do show up in 바카라사이트 final statistics.

These are 바카라사이트 sort of people who much of 바카라사이트 press (and I wonder how many people in 바카라사이트 sector?) do not really think should be in higher education at all.

Certainly 바카라사이트 idea that you might not come in through 바카라사이트 A-level route, but successfully complete o바카라사이트r programmes as a way of building up towards a degree, has no place in an elite system which is designed to fail 바카라사이트 vast majority of people simply by refusing 바카라사이트m access.

And that really is 바카라사이트 fundamental problem. We still have not come to terms with 바카라사이트 fact that we are now in a mass system of higher education.

Too much of 바카라사이트 sector, too many of its procedures, too much of 바카라사이트 rhetoric that surrounds it comes from a previous model which was elitist, hostile to 바카라사이트 needs and aspirations both of 바카라사이트 country and of 바카라사이트 people in it. It is not just 바카라사이트 inaccuracies which sections of 바카라사이트 media peddle which makes me so cross. It is 바카라사이트 deeply offensive, class-ridden prejudices 바카라사이트y promote. If people have 바카라사이트 capability to benefit from higher education, why should 바카라사이트y not have 바카라사이트 opportunity to do so?

Mike Fitzgerald is vice chancellor of Thames Valley University.