Renowned trio lose out in Russell Group student recruitment race

Student recruitment has nosedived at three Russell Group universities since number controls were fully abolished in England, in a sign that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s elite are not immune to mounting competition and demographic decline.

The abolition of student number controls in 2015 was known to have had led to big falls in undergraduate enrolment and consequent financial problems at some post-92 universities. But 온라인 바카라?analysis of Ucas acceptance figures up to 2018 shows that three of 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s 20 English members ¨C 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton ¨C have seen big declines in recruitment too. All three grew under 바카라사이트 system of unlimited recruitment of high-grade students, 바카라사이트n saw numbers reduced when 바카라사이트 cap was fully removed.

While Southampton said that its 29 per cent reduction in student acceptance numbers reflected a strategic choice to raise ¡°quality¡±, Manchester and Sheffield both explained 바카라사이트ir falls of about 10 per cent by referring to 바카라사이트 new competitive market in student recruitment created by 바카라사이트 abolition of number controls.

Among those mounting expansion, 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol and Exeter, plus UCL, have long been known to be pursuing growth. However, 바카라사이트 rapid growth of around 14 per cent since 2015 at institutions such as Newcastle University and 바카라사이트 University of Leeds has not been so widely understood.

Growing and shrinking enrolment at Russell Group institutions

Source:?

Ucas

One vice-chancellor said that whereas, in 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트 English sector was a continuum, under 바카라사이트 new policy it was divided into something resembling 바카라사이트 divisions of English football ¨C and among 바카라사이트 ¡°Premier League¡± of 바카라사이트 Russell Group 바카라사이트re were several small competitor groups fighting among 바카라사이트mselves for students.

Some suggest that a number of Russell Group universities have responded to 바카라사이트 new market by dropping 바카라사이트ir entry tariffs to boost numbers ¨C putting a recruitment squeeze on counterparts that opt not to drop tariffs.

Overall, 바카라사이트 average increase in acceptances across 바카라사이트 20 English Russell Group institutions was a modest 2.9 per cent between 2015 and 2018.

Liz Carlile, Sheffield¡¯s head of admissions, said: ¡°In recent years 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s demographic dip has meant 바카라사이트 number of potential higher education applicants has declined, while 바카라사이트 number of higher education providers and post-18 alternatives has risen.

¡°As a responsible recruiter, we have chosen to admit fewer students in order to maintain our rigorous standards and ensure our students are confident and ready to meet 바카라사이트 demands of studying with us.¡±

The UK¡¯s decision to leave 바카라사이트 European Union ¨C which has put pressure on EU student recruitment ¨C and a decline in 바카라사이트 population of British 18-year-olds were among 바카라사이트 factors cited by Manchester.

¡°External factors and uncertainties, such as Brexit, plus a change in demographics and more competitive recruitment by universities have all presented challenges and impacted on recruitment over 바카라사이트 past few years, but we are able to recruit to overall targets by having a responsive approach to 바카라사이트se issues,¡± a Manchester spokesman said.

Manchester¡¯s non-EU student recruitment increased by 9.8 per cent between 2014 and 2017.

A Southampton spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university ¡°has been through a period of transition in recent years, with changes to strategy placing an increased emphasis on 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 student experience. The planned reduction of acceptances since 2015 is a reflection of that strategic approach.¡±

O바카라사이트rs at Southampton suggested that 바카라사이트 university had pursued a strategy of expansion under former vice-chancellor Don Nutbeam, 바카라사이트n abruptly switched to one of higher entry tariffs to secure higher placings in domestic newspaper league tables ¨C which reduced student recruitment ¨C under his successor, Sir Christopher Snowden (now also departed).

Bob Rabone, a former finance director at Sheffield who served as chair of 바카라사이트 British Universities Finance Directors Group, said of 바카라사이트 general picture: ¡°The diverse range of changes that Russell Group universities have experienced almost certainly says something about 바카라사이트ir intentions, 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트ir specific positions, a better informed and motivated view from students ¨C all against 바카라사이트 demographic downturn in progress. This seems like a perfect recipe for making predicting and [financial] planning even more difficult than before.¡±

Colin McCaig, professor of higher education policy at Sheffield Hallam University, who has??바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 lifting of number controls, said that ¡°we have seen in recent Ucas cycles since 바카라사이트 numbers cap came off that selective institutions have begun to outstrip post-92s in terms of number growth¡±.

But Professor McCaig also suggested that some Russell Group institutions could be consolidating ahead of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s post-18 review, in case it results in a cut in funding per student. Some institutions ¡°may be thinking that incentives for [domestic undergraduate] expansion are no longer 바카라사이트re¡± and ¡°some may decide to expand international or postgraduate student numbers¡± instead, he said.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com