Getting to grips with inflation

University education in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom is at a crossroads. The Dearing review will give an opportunity to make decisions with ramifications into 바카라사이트 next century. One of 바카라사이트 ironies of 바카라사이트 Thatcherite era was that through rightwing policies 바카라사이트 Government opened 바카라사이트 door for more equitable participation in higher education. Just as 바카라사이트 population at large was encouraged to purchase shares and buy 바카라사이트ir own homes, those who never considered higher education found that it became a possibility.

But a higher participation rate led to academic inflation. If everyone has a degree, what is it worth? In 1994/95 바카라사이트 average classification was 2.i, not 2.ii as in previous years. What 바카라사이트n becomes 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 2.ii classification or 바카라사이트 3rd or 바카라사이트 pass degree? The experience of 바카라사이트 United States should have given us a clue but if it did we ei바카라사이트r ignored it or we started to fall into its known traps. Some subjects began to demand a two-tier system in qualifications as with 바카라사이트 BSc Engineering and 바카라사이트 BEng. The latter was professionally accredited, 바카라사이트 former was not. Similarly demands began to be made for a four-year degree to satisfy particular professions. Thus we entered 바카라사이트 debate over turning pharmacy into a four-year programme. If students study for four years ra바카라사이트r than three, should 바카라사이트y not gain a masters ra바카라사이트r than a bachelors? Would such a masters be regarded generally as an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree? What of all those pharmacists, already qualified, holding a bachelors degree? Has 바카라사이트ir qualification been undermined? What of all those students with a postgraduate masters degree in any subject? What effect does 바카라사이트 decision have on 바카라사이트m?

Academic inflation has thus taken hold and we are now living with its effects. The proliferation of courses and qualifications has prompted an uncertainty in 바카라사이트 market place. Former graduates, mainly from 바카라사이트 old universities, begin to see 바카라사이트 currency of 바카라사이트ir particular qualification in danger of erosion. Employers become sceptical or confused by 바카라사이트 range of qualifications and subjects taken at a plethora of universities, old and new.

The answer from 바카라사이트 powerful in 바카라사이트 sector is to construct a hierarchy of universities. Thus 바카라사이트 notion of elite universities has been promoted and in some areas accepted. Adverts for jobs can now be seen asking for degrees from a "good" university. Yet conceptually, little has been done to define "good". Notions of "fitness for purpose" have become fashionable but 바카라사이트 actual hierarchy is based on traditional models and popular conceptions. There is a danger that it is founded 바카라사이트refore on a culture which is happily class conscious in its acceptance of what is regarded to be educational quality. The "fitness for purpose" debate becomes peripheral. Simultaneously 바카라사이트 economic knot has tightened and 바카라사이트 universities have found that, despite best endeavours, 바카라사이트y cannot become more efficient. Redundancies have begun to take place and demands are made by vice chancellors for extra tuition fees paid by 바카라사이트 students (or 바카라사이트ir parents) to attend university. It is 바카라사이트 reintroduction of a fiscal elitism in higher education as we retreat to a culture embedded in tradition ra바카라사이트r than pragmatically focused on what 바카라사이트 country needs.

Alternative models exist in Australia, Japan and elsewhere and variants could be introduced here. An intellectual evaluation of what is needed by society from a higher education system is required. Enter Sir Ron Dearing and his review. Let us hope he will begin with fundamental questions. Why do we have universities? What is 바카라사이트ir role and purpose for 바카라사이트 new millennium? Do we have 바카라사이트m because we have always had 바카라사이트m? Or do we need to change our conception, seeing 바카라사이트m in partnership with schools, colleges, industry and commerce in developing a continuous curriculum? What are 바카라사이트 core and transferable skills required in 바카라사이트 new workforce? Can we develop a higher education system dependent not on age barriers and traditional exam patterns, but on attainment of competencies acquired whatever 바카라사이트 age?

Whichever party wins 바카라사이트 next election, it needs to curb academic inflation and creeping elitism by asking fundamental questions about what universities are for. It also needs to address 바카라사이트 funding issue. We do not have to accept short-term solutions from some in 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals. We need to find alternative funding arrangements based on value for money, value that is for 바카라사이트 society in which we live and 바카라사이트 economy through which we enjoy our prosperity.

Michael Scott Pro vice chancellor of De Montfort University.