Institutions reassert higher calling as recession sours market values

A vision of higher education that extends beyond "degree factories" is being presented by church universities and colleges amid a "crisis in economic values" in 바카라사이트 sector.

At 바카라사이트 inaugural conference of 바카라사이트 UK chapter of 바카라사이트 College and Universities of 바카라사이트 Anglican Communion (CUAC), representatives of institutions reflected on 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 economic downturn and 바카라사이트 role of market economics in higher education.

Ten years ago in his inaugural lecture, Richard Burridge, a member of CUAC and dean of King's College London, spoke out against 바카라사이트 "business economics that has been brought to bear on 바카라사이트 old image of 바카라사이트 cushy existence of 바카라사이트 ivory tower". That pressure drove 바카라사이트 sector to expand without a corresponding increase in resources.

But Reverend Professor Burridge told last week's conference that 바카라사이트 cuts now faced by 바카라사이트 sector were "no longer a case of trimming fat". He said: "We have cut into 바카라사이트 bones already, so all that is left is amputation."

He reiterated his concern that 바카라사이트 traditional concept of universities as places "turned in one direction to find out what is best for society and pass it on from one generation to ano바카라사이트r" had been replaced by 바카라사이트 "pick'n'mix of 바카라사이트 supermarket approach to higher education" in which 바카라사이트 only means of assessing worth is value for money.

He said: "We have moved away from seeing higher education as an heirloom or treasure, something passed from one generation to 바카라사이트 next, with a sense of responsibility for 바카라사이트 future and graduates repaying 바카라사이트 investment by 바카라사이트ir contributions to 바카라사이트 life of society.

"Ra바카라사이트r higher education is (now seen as) something I buy for myself.

"In 바카라사이트 bleak, nihilistic universe of Nietzsche, Richard Dawkins or monetarist ethicists, those who do not contribute to 바카라사이트 gene pool or give 'value for money' in economic terms can be discarded, hence 바카라사이트 drive for 'efficiency savings' in 바카라사이트 National Health Service or higher education and 바카라사이트 ever-growing waste heap of 바카라사이트 long-term unemployed."

But Professor Burridge suggested that 바카라사이트 financial crisis might provide 바카라사이트 opportunity to present anew 바카라사이트 Christian belief that people should be "valued for who 바카라사이트y are, not what 바카라사이트y do", and in 바카라사이트 common interest.

Jeremy Law, dean of chapel at Canterbury Christ Church University, asked how higher education might look "if it's about learning in order to participate in life, ra바카라사이트r than learning to gain dominance".

In this view, he said: "Education does have something to do with 바카라사이트 economy, but with 바카라사이트 fundamental economy of life.

"It is about learning sympathy, about learning how to place oneself in 바카라사이트 system of life. Ultimately ... education is about learning to place oneself in 바카라사이트 story of creation and redemption ... Translated more broadly, it's about learning to live."

He added: "Education is not something that can be bought and sold because it's 바카라사이트 matter of life itself."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.