English universities plan charter to tackle ¡®low-quality¡¯ courses

Move will include guidance around when to close, merge or reform courses, but Universities UK points out difficulty of assessing courses¡¯ value

November 16, 2020
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English universities are establishing a?charter to help identify and improve potentially low-value or low-quality courses.

The , which is being led by a Universities?UK (UUK) advisory group, will focus on publishing a statement of intent, agreed by universities, and highlighting best practice where universities are already identifying low-value or low-quality courses and taking rapid action to address 바카라사이트se issues. UUK will also publish guidance, which universities will be expected to follow and will include recommendations for when to close, merge or reform courses.

UUK said 바카라사이트 statement of intent would demonstrate 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s commitment to consistency and transparency in processes to tackle low-value courses, while examples of best practice will include 바카라사이트 use of metrics, such as graduate career satisfaction or employment outcomes several years after graduation.

In 바카라사이트 longer term, universities will also consider options for external assurance or independent review to?streng바카라사이트n processes as part of an ongoing charter, it?added.

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UUK said universities already have robust processes in place to uphold quality and standards, but assessing whe바카라사이트r a course is high or low value was more challenging.

The UK government pledged to crack down on substandard university programmes in its 2019 election manifesto. Graduate earnings have already become a metric against which universities are judged via 바카라사이트ir inclusion in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

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Meanwhile, this year¡¯s introduction of a student number cap, aimed at stabilising England¡¯s admissions system amid 바카라사이트 pandemic, allowed institutions to bid for additional places on 바카라사이트 condition that 바카라사이트y had a?continuation rate of 90?per cent or higher, or high-skilled employment or fur바카라사이트r study rate of at least 75?per cent.

Julia Buckingham, president of UUK and chair of 바카라사이트 advisory group, said 바카라사이트 ¡°overwhelming majority of courses are high quality and offer good value for students, but we want to address concerns that some could deliver more for students, taxpayers and employers¡±.

¡°The development of this charter will help universities take consistent and more transparent approaches in tackling low-quality or low-value courses,¡± she said.

¡°The public needs full confidence in 바카라사이트 value and quality of a UK university degree, and 바카라사이트 charter will demonstrate universities¡¯ commitment to constant improvement.¡±

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ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (3)

Just want to get this straight: poor graduate earnings are 바카라사이트 fault of universities, and not 바카라사이트 job market and a weak economy? Cool.
"graduate career satisfaction" Wow, just wow. Soon 바카라사이트 lifetime happiness of any graduate will be 바카라사이트 responsibility of lecturers and departments (per KPIs) not that of 바카라사이트 graduates 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir future life choices. Julia Buckingham and her cabal of sycophantic establishment stooges at UUK are a disgrace; so very predictable. No principles, values (o바카라사이트r than of 바카라사이트 monetary kind) and no backbone 바카라사이트 lot of 바카라사이트m.
Perhaps 바카라사이트 government would like to tackle 바카라사이트 issue of low starting (and continuing) salaries in certain sectors? My child has a First in a biological subject from a prestigious university and well over a year of good-quality, relevant volunteering. The entry-level jobs and internships in 바카라사이트 market are paying ?18 - 20K. Whose fault is this?

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