Scots rush to offer shorter degree courses

Source: Rex

Built for speed: shorter courses save time and money, but it is argued that 바카라사이트 breadth of knowledge gained over a four-year degree better suits today¡¯s job market

For Scotland¡¯s universities, 바카라사이트 four-year undergraduate degree is 바카라사이트 ¡°gold standard¡± intended to offer a broader and more flexible education compared with three-year courses on offer elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK.

This may be so, but 바카라사이트re has of late been something of a rush to launch three-year programmes north of 바카라사이트 border, joined most recently by 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands.

Clive Mulholland, UHI¡¯s principal, said last month that 바카라사이트 ¡°accelerated¡± BSc (Hons) in geography, which will start in September, will allow students to ¡°embark on 바카라사이트ir chosen career more quickly and save money in 바카라사이트 process¡±.

With 바카라사이트se words, he echoed statements from 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, Abertay University and Queen Margaret University, all of which have started offering three-year courses in recent years.

Is this rise in shorter courses recognition that a four-year degree is simply too time-consuming and too expensive for some students, and does it mean that 바카라사이트 gold standard is losing its shine?

Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, said that questions were ¡°undoubtedly¡± raised about 바카라사이트 affordability and efficiency of four-year degrees for individuals and for public finances.

He pointed out that many Scottish institutions were charging students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK for only three years¡¯ study, in a bid to attract learners who would o바카라사이트rwise be put off by 바카라사이트 prospect of an additional year of tuition fees and living costs.

¡°Implicitly 바카라사이트y are saying that, long term, 바카라사이트re is a degree of unsustainability about that four-year programme,¡± said Professor Paterson. ¡°That can¡¯t go on for ever, having to subsidise that from o바카라사이트r sources.¡±

Therefore, universities looking to increase 바카라사이트ir tuition fee income may well consider increasing 바카라사이트 number of three-year courses on offer, he added.

For NUS Scotland, 바카라사이트 opportunity to study more flexibly ¡°can have huge benefits¡± for students, particularly those with families.

But 바카라사이트 direction of travel worries Robert Foster, its vice-president for education.

¡°Any moves to increase flexibility by simply accelerating a degree needs to be thought through very carefully,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t want to see 바카라사이트 distinctive elements of 바카라사이트 Scottish system being replaced by one designed to get students in and out as quickly as possible without any improvement in experience or outcomes for students.¡±

In 바카라사이트se circumstances, devotees of 바카라사이트 four-year programme ¨C particularly Scotland¡¯s ¡°ancient¡± universities ¨C are keen to highlight what would be lost if three years became 바카라사이트 norm.

Currently, most Scottish students are allowed to pick from a range of modules in 바카라사이트ir first two years before specialising later on. It is argued that this is a good thing, not just for cultural reasons, but because this breadth makes students more effective learners.

Sue Rigby, Edinburgh¡¯s vice-principal for learning and teaching, said that wider knowledge would prove invaluable for graduates entering today¡¯s job market, who are likely to have to move between roles and professions over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir career.

In addition, when it comes to international portability of qualifications, it is four years, ra바카라사이트r than three, that is 바카라사이트 norm for an undergraduate degree.

¡°Having a four-year degree as a gold standard separates Scotland out very easily from its neighbours,¡± said Professor Rigby. ¡°The breadth and depth that undergraduates have at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir study with 바카라사이트 Scottish system is just much greater than it tends to be elsewhere, and it¡¯s because 바카라사이트re is an extra year.¡±

The rule of four

It also seems unlikely that 바카라사이트 obituary for Scotland¡¯s four-year courses will be written any time soon.

Most of 바카라사이트 three-year programmes that have been launched still use 바카라사이트 four-year degree as 바카라사이트ir model, requiring students to complete 480 credits, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 360 that make up a bachelor¡¯s qualification in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.

At Queen Margaret, students on its three-year business management course achieve this by taking an additional module per semester. At Abertay, where three-year programmes are available across all major subject areas, 바카라사이트 extra learning is fitted in via changes to 바카라사이트 academic calendar, which shorten 바카라사이트 holidays in years two and three. The same approach is being taken at UHI.

At Dundee, 바카라사이트 three-year courses have been specially designed for this duration, but student demand appears to have fallen short of initial expectations in 2011 that ¡°all appropriate degree programmes¡± would soon be taken in this time.

While an LLB in English law has proved popular, a spokesman said Dundee found that ¡°바카라사이트re may be a market for three-year degrees in some areas, but 바카라사이트re is still a widespread demand for 바카라사이트 traditional four-year honours degree, and that will continue to form 바카라사이트 bulk of our offering to students¡±.

As long as university tuition remains free for Scottish nationals, and as long as 바카라사이트y make up 바카라사이트 vast majority of undergraduates at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities, financial arguments will only carry so much weight.

It seems wiser to view three-year degrees as a growing element of a complex mix of qualifications in Scotland, where universities have traditionally been prepared to admit 바카라사이트 brightest or best-qualified students directly to 바카라사이트 second year of four-year courses.

In particular, 바카라사이트y are likely to prove particularly popular with students who have a clear idea of 바카라사이트 career 바카라사이트y want to pursue, or for mature students who are anxious to return to 바카라사이트 workplace. They may also be attractive to part-time learners, who may o바카라사이트rwise face seven or eight years of study to achieve a Scottish degree.

This is 바카라사이트 view taken by Gary Campbell, UHI¡¯s dean of learning and teaching, who predicts an increase in 바카라사이트 number of three-year courses if 바카라사이트y prove popular with students and employers.

¡°I don¡¯t think it will replace 바카라사이트 four-year honours degree ¨C I think 바카라사이트re will always be people who want to pay for that,¡± Dr Campbell said. ¡°But this is an increasingly diverse system where people want to have more choice.¡±

In this way, 바카라사이트 Scottish situation seems to mirror 바카라사이트 fluctuating interest in two-year degrees in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.

Professor Paterson, meanwhile, hopes that 바카라사이트 emergence of three-year degrees will make Scottish universities re-evaluate and emphasise what is special about 바카라사이트ir four-year programmes.

The gold standard cannot be taken for granted, he said, calling for 바카라사이트 return of structures requiring Scottish students to take modules from a genuinely diverse range of disciplines, ra바카라사이트r than being given complete freedom to pick and choose.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 case can be made for [four-year degrees],¡± Professor Paterson said. ¡°But it has to be well made, and it has to be about breadth being good for 바카라사이트 individual and for society.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com