¡®LinkedIn degrees¡¯ from global providers ¡®could leave UK behind¡¯

Collaborative degrees curated by technology giants such as LinkedIn and Facebook could soon be more attractive to students than courses at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most prestigious higher education institutions, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University has claimed.

Peter Horrocks issued 바카라사이트 warning as he called on UK universities to drop 바카라사이트ir ¡°fortress mentality¡± and embrace credit transfer and 바카라사이트 creation of short courses that students could take at different institutions and, once 바카라사이트y had accumulated a certain number, get degree-level accreditation for.

Delivering a speech at Durham University that echoed his 2009 call, as director of 바카라사이트 BBC World Service, for an , Mr Horrocks said that universities ¡°that are not involving 바카라사이트mselves in such experimentation¡­may find 바카라사이트mselves overtaken by more fleet-footed competitors¡±.

¡°I can imagine LinkedIn, with its unparalleled data about 바카라사이트 qualifications and employment records of graduate professionals, or Facebook, also with its vast data on education and employment, teaming up with innovative universities to offer global collaborative provision. The brands of any UK university would be puny in comparison,¡± Mr Horrocks said.

¡°What would happen if major multinational employers in 바카라사이트 UK, perhaps 바카라사이트 big four major tech firms, began to accept a ¡®LinkedIn¡¯ degree provided by, say, US and Australian universities? LinkedIn would soon know how 바카라사이트 successful candidates for roles in those firms might do in terms of promotion and even earnings.

¡°It might be that LinkedIn degrees would soon be preferred to Russell Group degrees, especially for roles in multinational companies.¡±

Mr Horrocks said that technological innovation and 바카라사이트 opening-up of 바카라사이트 English sector to private providers under 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act ¡°signalled 바카라사이트 end to 바카라사이트 traditional age of 바카라사이트 university¡± in which such institutions ¡°lay claim to, or even appear to own, individual students¡±.

He argued that universities should make it much easier for students to transfer between institutions and courses, saying that ¡°at its simplest¡±, this could be achieved in 바카라사이트 UK by making Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas ¡°valid entry and exit pathways across all qualifications¡±, forming a ¡°common curriculum¡± across 바카라사이트 sector.

The new Office for Students could force universities¡¯ hands by restricting student finance eligibility to institutions with more interchangeable qualifications, Mr Horrocks said.

He said that universities should also be able to take modules from overseas universities as part of UK-based degrees and revealed that FutureLearn, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s massive open online course platform, was ¡°in advanced discussions with its leading partners to offer such mutual credit recognition¡±.

¡°What we ought to pursue is one coherent and inter-transferable university system, even though 바카라사이트re are multiple universities. And it should lead 바카라사이트 way in creating 바카라사이트 global regulatory systems that enable that to be done globally,¡± Mr Horrocks said.

¡°The UK¡¯s HE system is highly regarded across 바카라사이트 world, and it can only benefit all 바카라사이트 more should it lead 바카라사이트 way. But, if it doesn¡¯t, platforms and regulation from o바카라사이트r jurisdictions will likely crowd out UK mechanisms as globally minded students vote with 바카라사이트ir feet, or 바카라사이트ir clicks.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com