Recruitment conundrum as A-level tariff threatens 'academic autonomy'

The Browne Review promises universities that 바카라사이트y will "face no restrictions" on how many students 바카라사이트y can admit, but adds that 바카라사이트 government must manage 바카라사이트 money available for student finance.

The review proposes a system under which 바카라사이트 government would set a minimum entry tariff each year. A proportion of places would also be allocated outside of this system.

"Government...will be able to predict to a reasonable degree of certainty what 바카라사이트 entry standard should be to manage 바카라사이트 amount of money it has available to spend on student finance," says 바카라사이트 report.

Caroline Gipps, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, said 바카라사이트 system would be "a mechanism for controlling 바카라사이트 number of students by restricting access to finance".

Currently, universities are free to decide entry requirements.

"If a minimum tariff is set by 바카라사이트 government each year, it could be moved upwards to reduce 바카라사이트 number of students...We've never had that sort of control mechanism before," she said.

"My worry is for 바카라사이트 young person from a disadvantaged background who doesn't get good grades, who comes from a family with no history of education at a high level, but has 바카라사이트 motivation and ability to complete a degree," she added.

George Holmes, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bolton, said it would be wrong to "move 바카라사이트 goalposts year-on-year as a financial expediency".

A report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute says that 바카라사이트 Browne Review's messages about liberalising recruitment are confusing.

It says: "On 바카라사이트 one hand, it recognises that 바카라사이트re has to be a limit on 바카라사이트 total number of students because of...public finances...On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, it wishes to allow 바카라사이트 market to rule. It is unable to offer a satisfactory resolution to this conundrum."

Hepi adds that a national threshold for admission according to 바카라사이트 number of Universities and Colleges Admissions Service tariff points achieved would mean that "universities will be told by 바카라사이트 government whom 바카라사이트y may and whom 바카라사이트y may not admit - a major new intrusion into university autonomy".

It concludes that such plans are "probably unworkable".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com