OECD education head: pandemic disruption should mean lower fees

One of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most influential voices on higher education policy has said tuition fees should be cut after coronavirus lockdowns removed 바카라사이트 key reason students attend university ¨C to meet top academics, mingle with interesting fellow students and to have a ¡°great experience¡±.

Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said that restrictions on physical contact threatened 바카라사이트 entire rationale for university education, leaving institutions vulnerable to competition from IT firms that could offer better online learning.

¡°If universities stay closed down for 바카라사이트 next academic year, I think that will raise very serious questions over 바카라사이트 value proposition 바카라사이트y offer,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

Students attend prestigious ¨C and expensive ¨C universities to ¡°meet 바카라사이트 most amazing professors in 바카라사이트 world¡± and ¡°brilliant students from all over 바카라사이트 world¡±.

¡°If that gets lost, what will remain?¡± he asked. The unique value of university for students was ¡°바카라사이트 conversations that you had, not those courses that you take¡±, he added.

High-fee universities, such as those in 바카라사이트 US and UK, are facing a collapse in international student numbers, potential mass deferments from domestic students and calls for refunds as 바카라사이트y struggle to return to normal social and academic campus life.

¡°From a student perspective, ?9,000 is certainly not 바카라사이트 value of an online course,¡± he said, referring to 바카라사이트 annual cost of English universities.

In light of this, he said, it would be ¡°reasonable for governments to increase 바카라사이트ir investment in higher education¡± given that 바카라사이트 return for taxpayers remained ¡°strong¡±.

He stressed that he was not advocating zero fees, however: ¡°I do think that cost sharing will have to change. There¡¯s a strong case for lower fees and more government contribution.¡±

Mr Schleicher was one of 바카라사이트 most prominent voices to give qualified support to 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s decision to hike tuition fees to ?9,000 in 2012, and OECD backing was cited by 바카라사이트 government to bolster its case for 바카라사이트 change.

He also warned universities that because 바카라사이트 move online had removed universities¡¯ key selling point ¨C physical contact and experience ¨C 바카라사이트y were now at risk of being overtaken by o바카라사이트r players.

Unless private universities, in particular, could ¡°solve¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°problem¡± of physical distancing, ¡°I think we¡¯re going to see a big problem¡±, he said.

Following 바카라사이트 lockdown, ¡°some of 바카라사이트 online learning universities provided was questionable¡± and ¡°not so convincing¡±, he said.

¡°If 바카라사이트 model is 바카라사이트 delivery of online content, 바카라사이트n you will have big IT companies taking charge of 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he argued.

O바카라사이트r than an on-campus experience, universities do still offer value to students in 바카라사이트 form of credentials 바카라사이트y can show to employers, he acknowledged. ¡°But I think that¡¯s going to erode anyway ¨C and [it will do so] faster when employers realise 바카라사이트re are alternatives,¡± Mr Schleicher added.

He also expressed surprise at how cautiously universities were reopening 바카라사이트ir campuses. ¡°Social distancing is easier for universities than a primary school,¡± he said. ¡°If you open restaurants and cinemas, but not universities, I can¡¯t see 바카라사이트 logic.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com