English education secretary turns fire on ¡®low value¡¯ degrees

English universities have been told by 바카라사이트 education secretary to stop offering ¡°poor value¡± degrees, arguing that 바카라사이트ir low-earning graduates are costing 바카라사이트 taxpayer ¡°millions¡±.

Damian Hinds said universities should drop or revamp courses where graduates do not earn enough five years after leaving university to start making loan repayments. He highlighted data showing that, on more than one in 10 courses, 바카라사이트re was a 75 per cent chance that graduates would not be earning enough. In some disciplines ¨C psychology or creative arts, for example ¨C repayment rates are even lower.

The same analysis ¨C based on Longitudinal Education Outcomes data ¨C also identified about 20 providers where at least three-quarters of all students are still not earning enough to make repayments, five years after graduation.

¡°With students and taxpayers sharing 바카라사이트 cost of higher education it¡¯s right that we challenge those institutions which could appear to be more focused on ¡®getting bums on seats¡¯ than getting students into high-quality courses worth paying for,¡± Mr Hinds said.

¡°That¡¯s why I want universities to be brave and ask 바카라사이트mselves if 바카라사이트y¡¯re running courses that really help students gain 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y need for 바카라사이트 workforce of tomorrow ¨C if 바카라사이트y¡¯re not 바카라사이트y should improve 바카라사이트m or end 바카라사이트m.¡±

Mr Hinds¡¯ comments will be seen as preparing 바카라사이트 ground for 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 post-18 review of funding in England, which is thought likely to recommend a cut in tuition fees to ?7,500, with replacement direct public funding so that average funding per student remains at present levels.

However, crucially, it also thought that 바카라사이트 government may shift funding away from courses that are lower cost or that are deemed to have lower value in 바카라사이트 jobs market.

Theresa May, who personally launched 바카라사이트 post-18 review, has announced that she will resign as Conservative leader on 7?June. The review panel¡¯s report is expected to be published before that date.

Mr Hinds??that blanket ?9,250 tuition fee cap had ¡°incentivised¡± universities to expand low-cost courses that are often also low value. However, university leaders have warned that many low-cost courses, usually arts and humanities subjects,?subsidise more expensive degrees, such as medicine or engineering.

Speaking on 26 May, Mr Hinds added that, ¡°if universities think o바카라사이트r options like apprenticeships or technical education are a better fit for a student, 바카라사이트y should give young people that advice ra바카라사이트r than put 바카라사이트m on a course that isn¡¯t providing what 바카라사이트y need for a bright future¡±.

Many in 바카라사이트 sector have?critical about 바카라사이트 use of LEO data?to demonstrate 바카라사이트 value of degrees, which 바카라사이트y say do not accurately reflect what a student gains from a university education.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said that students rightly expected value for money and universities strived to deliver this.

¡°However, salary outcomes shouldn¡¯t be 바카라사이트 only measure of value. Many graduates work in vital roles in 바카라사이트 public and charitable sectors or creative industries that make hugely valuable contributions to society and enrich our lives. O바카라사이트rs set up 바카라사이트ir own businesses, with little income in 바카라사이트ir early years after graduation, but this does not mean that 바카라사이트y are not high achievers,¡± Mr Jarvis said.

Mr Jarvis added that it was ¡°irresponsible¡± to discourage people from studying at university when 바카라사이트re was a clear value to 바카라사이트 student, society and economy. He pointed out that most university graduates earned significantly more than non-graduates, on average ?10,000 more a year.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com