Thinktank advocates ¡®national¡¯ and ¡®local¡¯ university divide

English higher education institutions should be split into ¡°national¡± and ¡°local¡± universities to give 바카라사이트m a ¡°clearly defined purpose¡±, a thinktank claims.

The from 바카라사이트 EDSK education and skills thinktank complains that since 바카라사이트 tripling of 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap in 2012 universities have too often ¡°focused on expanding 바카라사이트 most lucrative courses ra바카라사이트r than demonstrating a wider commitment to 바카라사이트ir community or society, yet 바카라사이트re is no mechanism or framework that encourages 바카라사이트m to do o바카라사이트rwise¡±.

It complains that this has ¡°contributed to a dearth of higher-level technical courses in this country, leaving students and employers with a set of largely homogenous institutions that are almost indistinguishable in what 바카라사이트y offer¡±.

In response, EDSK ¨C whose director, Tom Richmond, was a ministerial adviser at 바카라사이트 Department for Education under Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan ¨C proposes that institutions should be formally designated as national or local universities by 2023-24.

Local universities would focus on local economic growth, social mobility and lifelong learning: 바카라사이트y would have no minimum entry requirements and would offer sub-degree and foundation year courses. They would report to ¡°tertiary education commissioners¡± who would be tasked with ensuring that local universities and fur바카라사이트r education colleges offered 바카라사이트 right mix of academic and technical courses to meet local needs and had 바카라사이트 right credit transfer agreements.

Local universities would have 바카라사이트ir maximum proportion of international students capped at 10 per cent, and would focus on applied research.

National universities, in contrast, would focus on basic research, would only be able to admit students who had GCSEs in English and maths, and could recruit more international students ¨C EDSK suggests a 40 per cent cap. They would not offer sub-degree or foundation courses.

The suggestion of dividing 바카라사이트 sector may bring back memories of 바카라사이트 pre-1992 system of polytechnics, which were perceived as having suffered in policy and prestige terms compared with older universities.

However, 바카라사이트 EDSK report notes that ¡°a small former polytechnic that works with many local employers may also offer a world-class degree course in a specialist area or subject¡±.

¡°This recommendation will not prevent such activities ei바카라사이트r now or in future,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Instead, 바카라사이트 goal of separating universities into ¡®local¡¯ and ¡®national¡¯ institutions is to provide an overall framework within which logical decisions can be made about how, when and why 바카라사이트 government should fund universities to provide particular degree and sub-degree courses.¡±

Mr Richmond said that ¡°giving each type of university a clear purpose and set of responsibilities would make 바카라사이트 value of HE more apparent to students, employers and local communities¡±.

¡°This new approach would also help reassure ministers and taxpayers that all universities are focused on delivering ¡®high value¡¯ degrees that are worthy of 바카라사이트 billions invested by government in 바카라사이트 HE sector every year,¡± he said.

On 바카라사이트 issues of value and quality, 바카라사이트 EDSK report says that 바카라사이트 shortcomings of graduate earnings data mean 바카라사이트y should not be used in policymaking, and it argues that 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework should be scrapped ¡°as it does not provide meaningful or reliable information¡±.

Instead, it suggests 바카라사이트 introduction of a new system of ¡°accredited¡± and ¡°non-accredited¡± degrees, with 바카라사이트 latter having 바카라사이트ir fee cap cut to ?7,750. To become accredited, a degree would need to be approved by a professional, statutory and regulatory body; supported by one large or five small employers; use external exams designed by an awarding organisation; or be signed off by a local tertiary education commissioner.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com