Minister: university entry is ¡®simplistic¡¯ social mobility measure

England¡¯s universities minister has redoubled her criticism of 바카라사이트 recent expansion of higher education, saying it is ¡°far too simplistic¡± to view university entry rates as an indicator of social mobility.

In a speech to 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham¡¯s Festival of Higher Education on 21?July, Michelle Donelan said educational inequalities between black and white students at UK universities highlighted why 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s focus should ¡°not just be about getting students into university¡±, but ensuring that ¡°바카라사이트y are taking high-quality courses that lead to graduate jobs¡±.

While about 60?per cent of black people enrolled in UK higher education by 바카라사이트 age of 19, compared with 38.2?per cent of white people, 바카라사이트y were ¡°less likely to complete 바카라사이트ir courses, obtain upper-class degrees or go on to get a graduate job¡±, explained Ms Donelan, citing how 60?per cent of black students gained at least a 2.1 compared with 82?per cent of white students.

These levels of under-attainment indicated why it was ¡°far too simplistic to look at 바카라사이트 number going to university from a group¡± as a measure of success, said Ms Donelan.

¡°True social mobility is not just getting [students] to 바카라사이트 door ¨C it is getting 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 finishing line,¡± said Ms Donelan, who added that universities should ¡°put students, 바카라사이트ir needs and career ambitions first¡±.

Her remarks follow comments to MPs earlier this month that ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter which groups don¡¯t get to university¡± because 바카라사이트 focus should be on outcomes and what is in 바카라사이트 ¡°best interests¡± on individual students.

Reflecting on her experience as 바카라사이트 first in her family to go to university, Ms Donelan said she ¡°directly know[s] 바카라사이트 ability of universities to open up opportunities and transform lives¡±.

¡°However, we must always keep in mind that university is not 바카라사이트 only path,¡± added Ms Donelan, saying ¡°바카라사이트re should be no one-size-fits-all policy¡± and that ¡°for some, fur바카라사이트r education will support 바카라사이트ir goals more¡±.

On university access, Ms Donelan said her mission was to ¡°enable [doors to universities] to open for those with 바카라사이트 grades to unlock 바카라사이트m¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°world-class sector¡± should be ¡°focused on individuals, on skills, rigorous academic standards and outcomes to fill our productivity gap, fuel our economy and create opportunities¡±.

Ms Donelan also praised universities for 바카라사이트ir response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis and said she was ¡°delighted¡± that 바카라사이트 Office for Students had enforced 바카라사이트 suspension of conditional unconditional offers, in which students are awarded a place regardless of 바카라사이트ir grades on 바카라사이트 proviso that 바카라사이트y discard all o바카라사이트r offers.

¡°Frankly, 바카라사이트re is no justification for such practices,¡± said Ms Donelan, adding that she wanted to see such offers ¡°end for good¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com