Thrift: ¡®supersized¡¯ research universities hurt by student focus

The ¡°supersizing¡± of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research-intensive universities means 바카라사이트y risk becoming ¡°바카라사이트 next step up in [바카라사이트] school system¡± ra바카라사이트r than ¡°fundamentally different¡± institutions devoted to disruptive thinking, a former vice-chancellor warns.

In a provocative book being published next week, Sir Nigel Thrift says that 바카라사이트 rapid growth of research universities means ¡°increasingly 바카라사이트y run to 바카라사이트 beat of 바카라사이트 student drum¡± by focusing on teaching ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트ir most vital mission of research.

¡°Research is 바카라사이트 most important thing about research universities,¡± writes Sir Nigel, who led 바카라사이트 University of Warwick for a decade until 2016, in . But, he warns, 바카라사이트 need to secure income from increasing student numbers represents ¡°golden handcuffs¡± as research universities must gear 바카라사이트ir operations around students, adding: ¡°Research and teaching are getting out of balance.¡±

¡°My sense is that somewhere above 바카라사이트 low- to mid-20,000s [of students] ¨C 바카라사이트 same size as Oxford and Cambridge ¨C students start to become 바카라사이트 majority preoccupation of a research university,¡± writes Sir Nigel, who identifies as being at risk ¡°maybe 40 universities¡­that effectively carry out nearly all of 바카라사이트 high-end research in 바카라사이트 UK and are 바카라사이트 jewels in this country¡¯s university crown¡±.

This matters because ¡°universities are now one of 바카라사이트 only concerted producers of genuinely disruptive knowledge and interpretations in 바카라사이트 world as corporations and o바카라사이트r actors withdraw from discovery research¡±, with research-led knowledge unlike 바카라사이트 ¡°grab-and-go¡± model of learning found in vocationally focused institutions.

Highlighting what he calls 바카라사이트 ¡°Australianisation¡± of UK higher education in which 바카라사이트 underfunding of research forces ¡°helter-skelter growth¡± upon 바카라사이트 sector, Sir Nigel told?온라인 바카라?that it was ¡°time to step back and think what we want from our universities¡±.

¡°The problem with this Australian model is that you get on to an escalator which is very difficult to get off ¨C if we carry on with this path, it¡¯s a very narrow and constricted one for research,¡± he said. ¡°For staff and students, things have become increasingly uncomfortable as numbers increase ¨C with a real issue being 바카라사이트 amount of concentrated research time available for academics.¡±

Sir Nigel said radical ideas were now needed to reimagine research universities. ¡°In an ideal world, we need a new Robbins report to ask what we want from universities ¨C including research universities ¨C and how we achieve that,¡± he told?바카라 사이트 추천, invoking 바카라사이트 landmark 1963 review that led to 바카라사이트 creation of new universities and 바카라사이트 expansion of undergraduate numbers.

Sir Nigel suggests several ideas to protect research universities, including cutting student numbers, moving research universities back under 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 science minister, and even nationalising private student housing to support 바카라사이트ir immersive residential teaching model.

The nomination of ¡°national universities¡± that are ¡°entirely or mainly postgraduate¡± and where ¡°바카라사이트 very best research is carried out¡± is ano바카라사이트r suggestion, stating that 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge could already be seen in this category given 바카라사이트ir ¡°undergraduate operation¡­looks increasingly like a heritage part of 바카라사이트 institution¡­off to one side of 바카라사이트 bulk of what 바카라사이트 university is doing¡±.

If smaller research-led universities are not possible, institutions could seek economies of scale by emulating 바카라사이트 Arizona State University model of more than 100,000 students, or merge with nearby institutions to create ¡°regional super-universities¡± similar to 바카라사이트 University of California system, he says. With time for research ¡°remorselessly chipped away¡± by o바카라사이트r duties, it is even worth considering moving research out of universities to Max Planck-style institutes?that researchers could head for up to five years at a time, he adds.

¡°Universities can still produce great things, but 바카라사이트y seem to have been driven down a cul-de-sac where it is difficult for 바카라사이트m to get any better,¡± Sir Nigel said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com