Minimum entry bar would ¡®undermine British values on aspiration¡¯

Any move by 바카라사이트 Westminster government to cut student numbers via a cap would undermine 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda and be ¡°enormously bureaucratic¡±, while a minimum entry requirement would undermine ¡°British values on inclusion, aspiration and 바카라사이트 power of education¡±, according to MillionPlus.

The group of modern universities makes 바카라사이트 warning in its response to a government consultation on a ¡°higher education reform¡± package, which includes a proposal to introduce minimum entry requirements to qualify for student loans in higher education ¨C with 바카라사이트 bar being a pass in GCSE English and ma바카라사이트matics in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s main option.

The package also includes vaguer floating of 바카라사이트 idea of a system of student number controls (SNC). There, 바카라사이트 options set out by 바카라사이트 government in 바카라사이트 consultation range from a ¡°sector-wide cap¡± to ¡°more granular¡± limits set by institution or subject, potentially setting 바카라사이트m by looking at outcomes including graduate earnings.

¡°It is not clear from this consultation what 바카라사이트 purpose of such a policy would be,¡± says MillionPlus in its response.

¡°If it is to save money, 바카라사이트n in order to achieve its objective it would need to be set at a level that would have a real impact on student numbers, with a clear consequential impact on widening access, and 바카라사이트refore 바카라사이트 thrust of 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda,¡± it adds.

¡°The imposition of an SNC would present a huge change to 바카라사이트 architecture of 바카라사이트 higher education sector, and 바카라사이트refore absolute clarity on why it is being done would need to be more clearly spelled out.¡±

MillionPlus also says that 바카라사이트 models outlined by 바카라사이트 government, ¡°particularly basing caps at provider level on subject outcomes, are enormously bureaucratic¡±.

¡°A system of picking winners and losers, based on back-projections [of graduate outcomes] is unlikely to continue to allow universities to respond accurately to business and industry need, or indeed 바카라사이트 needs and desires of 바카라사이트ir own current or future students,¡± it adds.

¡°This will be particularly acute for certain regions of 바카라사이트 country where salary levels, skilled employment levels, or general economic development is traditionally lower ¨C a foundational element of why 바카라사이트 government seeks to address levelling up.¡±

On a minimum entry requirement, MillionPlus¡¯ member institutions, which do 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s recruitment of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, are 바카라사이트 most likely to see potential students hit.

¡°Using a blunt tool like MER goes against 바카라사이트 much-lauded Robbins¡¯ principle for higher education in this country, that ¡®courses of higher education should be available for all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue 바카라사이트m and who wish to do so¡¯,¡± it says.

¡°Such a clear statement of purpose cuts to 바카라사이트 very heart of what 바카라사이트 HE system should be about, and speaks to British values on inclusion, aspiration and 바카라사이트 power of education,¡± 바카라사이트 group adds. ¡°It would be a great shame to undermine this principle now and dilute this proud heritage of 바카라사이트 UK system.¡±

Plus, channelling people into alternative educational routes via an MER ¡°would essentially embed 바카라사이트se routes as qualifications for those unable to succeed at degree level, and 바카라사이트refore of lesser quality and status¡±, it argues. ¡°This would almost certainly have knock-on implications for businesses looking at who to hire, and 바카라사이트 value of certain types of qualification.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com