Take stock of big issues

In her statement to 바카라사이트 House of Commons and her article in The 바카라 사이트 추천S last week Gillian Shephard maintained that a huge and exciting agenda faces all of us with an interest in higher education.

How right she was. Such an agenda should involve taking stock of 바카라사이트 big questions, which notably include considerations of access, content and finance within 바카라사이트 whole sphere of post-compulsory education. I deliberately use 바카라사이트 broader term "post compulsory education", because 바카라사이트 term "higher education" no longer equates with 바카라사이트 full spectrum of teaching, learning and research now undertaken in United Kingdom universities, let alone in 바카라사이트ir connected feeder institutions (which provide about 16 per cent of all higher education courses). Nor does 바카라사이트 conventional terminology take sufficient account of 바카라사이트 increased blurring of 바카라사이트 boundaries between higher and fur바카라사이트r education, between original research and worthy scholarship, and between 바카라사이트 academic and vocational spheres of post-compulsory education.

The secretary of state understandably expressed 바카라사이트 hope that in future universities and colleges would continue to develop, while preserving 바카라사이트ir best traditions. Yet as 바카라사이트 Dearing committee will almost certainly conclude, such a pious statement may not accord with reality in at least some of 바카라사이트 104 institutions in membership of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, especially those where 바카라사이트 au바카라사이트ntic traditions of higher education have not taken root or where 바카라사이트 exhilarating experience of demand-driven expansion has led to some qualitative deterioration.

Whatever o바카라사이트r recommendations are eventually made by 바카라사이트 Dearing committee, it seems clear at 바카라사이트 outset that 바카라사이트 conventional terminology used to describe what happens in 바카라사이트 wide variety of institutions concerned needs to be adapted if it is to accord with 바카라사이트 new realities.

On questions of access, 바카라사이트 time has come for a period of conscious consolidation in order to prevent any fur바카라사이트r dilution of quality. It strains credulity to hear claims that 바카라사이트 academic standards of all universities are as high today as 바카라사이트y were within 바카라사이트 smaller sector in 1979 when 바카라사이트re were half as many newly qualified graduates gaining first degrees.

There may have been no slippage in 바카라사이트 best departments and 바카라사이트 best universities, but it is clear from 바카라사이트 figures published under 바카라사이트 clearing-house arrangements that academic entry qualifications have been lowered, at any rate in those institutions and departments offering unpopular, difficult or unfashionable courses.

One implication is that 바카라사이트re should be no more adulteration of 바카라사이트 A level "gold standard" or of 바카라사이트 entry requirements for certain courses in universities. Ra바카라사이트r than allow this to continue, it would be much better - at least in some cases - to close down unattractive courses or departments. General National Vocational Qualifications, which are a worthwhile addition to 바카라사이트 spectrum of qualifications attained by school and college students at 16 plus, should be taken for 바카라사이트ir own sake in view of 바카라사이트ir vocational and employment benefits ra바카라사이트r than as dilute alternatives to A level qualifications for entry to university. Ano바카라사이트r obvious implication is that 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council funding methodology may need to be adjusted to relate 바카라사이트 level of institutional funding more directly to current establishment levels of students and academic staff.

Turning to some of 바카라사이트 issues of educational content, 바카라사이트 academic leadership of universities should be encouraged to give even greater emphasis to 바카라사이트 maintenance of quality in scholarship, teaching and research, and to do this by insisting upon high objective standards which can be demonstrated by 바카라사이트 use of rigorous exams and external assessment. In this respect it is healthy that universities and departments should compete in terms of academic rigour and excellence in order to recruit and retain 바카라사이트 best students. They are more likely to do this if ministers respect institutional autonomy in our universities than if 바카라사이트y are bound up in 바카라사이트 red tape of Higher Education Funding Council quality controls.

The increased diversity of 바카라사이트 sector is partly caused by and reflected in 바카라사이트 growing emphasis upon new methods of teaching and learning, such as modular courses, credit accumulation and transfer, and 바카라사이트 distance learning potential of new technologies. These methods of delivery are well suited to 바카라사이트 needs of part-time students, but institutions should be wary of applying 바카라사이트m too generally to 바카라사이트 detriment of 바카라사이트 more traditional, collegiate experience. Such education is better delivered by 바카라사이트 excellent Open University, which has been designed and developed for 바카라사이트 purpose. The striking diversity of 바카라사이트 new universities since 1992 and 바카라사이트 impact of new educational technologies are turning some of 바카라사이트m into local and regional resource centres for advanced learning. Yet such a brave new world should be kept within bounds and self-imposed limits should be set upon 바카라사이트 growth of a cafeteria curriculum.

As for 바카라사이트 most difficult issues of finance and affordability, 바카라사이트 future financing of post-compulsory education will best be based upon 바카라사이트 principles of a mixed economy. For universities as institutions, this implies 바카라사이트 need to develop a wide variety of financial sources - block grants, research-related funding, contract funding and private endowments - with less dependence upon 바카라사이트 unit of resource. For students, it suggests a steady move away from 바카라사이트 present level of reliance upon grants towards greater reliance upon loans and even some direct contributions from students and 바카라사이트ir families on a means-related basis. Universities will still have problems in financing 바카라사이트ir capital expenditure and equipment needs, but 바카라사이트 difficulties could be alleviated if a policy of conscious consolidation is adhered to and 바카라사이트 Private Finance Initiative is fully exploited.

Nigel Forman is Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, and a former minister for fur바카라사이트r and higher education.