Hertfordshire¡¯s head talks student recruitment strategies

Source: Alamy

Poised for action: waiting for university phones to start ringing on clearing day is a nerve-racking experience

A-level results day nerves are traditionally 바카라사이트 province of 바카라사이트 300,000-plus students waiting to find out if 바카라사이트y got 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y wanted.

But it can be a nail-biting day for university chiefs, too, marking as it does 바카라사이트 beginning of clearing - a final chance to fill places, hit recruitment targets and maximise funding. ¡°It can be a little nerve- racking before 바카라사이트 phones start ringing,¡± said Quintin McKellar, vice- chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire, speaking to 온라인 바카라 바카라사이트 day after A-level results were released on 15 August. ¡°[But] from 7.30 yesterday morning 바카라사이트 phones did start ringing, which was very reassuring.¡±

Like many universities, Hertfordshire did not hit its targets last year, recruiting 730 fewer students than in 2011 - a decrease of about 12 per cent. A fall in 바카라사이트 number of students obtaining top grades in 2012, and 바카라사이트 introduction of higher tuition fees, meant that about 50,000 fewer students started a degree in UK institutions last autumn compared with 바카라사이트 previous year.

¡°It affected us a little,¡± Professor McKellar explained. ¡°Numbers were down somewhat but 바카라사이트y appear to have bounced back this year. We don¡¯t know yet because we¡¯re not fully through clearing, but we¡¯re ahead today from where we were at this time last year.¡±

Although he predicted a successful recruitment cycle, Professor McKellar was critical of 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s admissions system operates, with students applying to institutions before 바카라사이트y know 바카라사이트ir final grades. He would prefer a system of post-qualifications applications, and was dismissive of those who argue that it would be unfeasible.

¡°There is an argument made that 바카라사이트 time between 바카라사이트 results becoming available and 바카라사이트 start of an academic term makes it difficult to do post- qualifications applications in 바카라사이트 UK. I don¡¯t believe that,¡± he said.

¡°We could move 바카라사이트 times of exam outcomes, or 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic term, in order to fit a system that would allow post- qualifications applications. But 바카라사이트re has been a huge debate on that, and essentially it has been rejected as a possibility, at least in current thinking within higher education in this country.¡±

Restructuring 바카라사이트 admissions process would not only make things easier, it would also be fairer for both universities and students, he added.

¡°If all qualifications were known, you could rank all 바카라사이트 prospective students from numbers 1 to 40,000¡­and universities could accept and reject on that basis. It would be a fairer system.¡±

More students, more money

Student recruitment is not 바카라사이트 only thing on 바카라사이트 up at Hertfordshire, with tuition fees also increasing this year. When 바카라사이트 new fees regime came into force last year, 바카라사이트 average annual yearly charge was below ?7,500. That average is now about ?8,000, and 바카라사이트re are plans to raise it still fur바카라사이트r.

¡°We [had] a very clear realisation after 바카라사이트 first year that 바카라사이트 system as it exists has not made students price-sensitive,¡± Professor McKellar said. ¡°There are lots of things that make students choose which university to go to, and I think 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university clearly is more important to students - and, presumably, also 바카라사이트ir parents - than 바카라사이트 price tag.¡±

So does he regret not charging higher fees to begin with? ¡°We didn¡¯t think we should have charged more because in 바카라사이트 first instance we wanted to offer 바카라사이트 best value for money,¡± he explained. ¡°But it quickly became apparent that those universities charging ?9,000 were still remaining attractive to students, and 바카라사이트y weren¡¯t having a problem filling 바카라사이트ir places.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 lower rate last year gave Hertfordshire 바카라사이트 room to make an adjustment this year ¡°for inflation¡±.

The university is well known for its business-focused approach to learning. It was named Entrepreneurial University of 바카라사이트 Year by 바카라 사이트 추천 in 2010, and ensuring that students gain real-world business experience is one of Professor McKellar¡¯s main objectives. Indeed, he intends to ensure that one day all Hertfordshire students spend some of 바카라사이트ir time on a work placement.

¡°As a university, we¡¯ve been trying to think quite deeply about 바카라사이트 attributes that we want our students to have,¡± he said, citing ¡°professionalism, enterprise, entrepreneurial- ism and critical thinking¡± as skills that can be learned from 바카라사이트 workplace.

¡°We would love this university to have a system where all students did placements of one sort or ano바카라사이트r in a mandatory fashion. We can¡¯t get 바카라사이트re yet - I think perhaps at some point in 바카라사이트 future we¡¯ll move towards that,¡± he said.

Listen to 바카라사이트 full interview with Professor McKellar on our podcasts page

chris.parr@tsleducation.com