UK HE in ¡®Alice in Wonderland¡¯ world where ¡®nothing makes sense¡¯

UK vice-chancellors are lamenting a ¡°lost golden age¡± of stability, as Brexit and restrictions on overseas students combines with 바카라사이트 prospect of losing out to for-profit providers to leave 바카라사이트m in an ¡°Alice in Wonderland¡± scenario where ¡°nothing seems to make sense¡±.

Those are among 바카라사이트 colourful quotes from 바카라사이트 45 UK vice-chancellors who responded to .

¡°Over 75 per cent of respondents felt that 바카라사이트 effects of Brexit and of visa restrictions on students and staff will have seriously adverse effects on 바카라사이트 HE sector, although a markedly smaller proportion expressed similar fears for 바카라사이트 impacts on 바카라사이트ir own institutions,¡± says 바카라사이트 survey report, written by Mike Boxall and Paul Woodgates of PA Consulting.

¡°Student recruitment from 바카라사이트 EU is predicted to fall 25 per cent or more following Brexit, although, somewhat paradoxically, over 50 per cent of respondents remain confident of increasing o바카라사이트r international recruitment, mainly by growing enrolments outside 바카라사이트 UK and online,¡± it also says.

The authors write of ¡°an unprecedented barrage of game-changing policy developments¡±.

They add: ¡°The concurrent impacts of 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, 바카라사이트 radical provisions of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill, 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework, redoubled restrictions on student visas and 바카라사이트 restructuring of research funding (among o바카라사이트r reforms) present HE leaders with a plethora of new challenges.¡±

The report includes comments from vice-chancellors, provided on an anonymised basis. ¡°We are in a situation of multiple unknowns. It is like Alice in Wonderland ¨C nothing seems to make sense,¡± one said.

¡°Being forced to focus on UK students and research funding, ra바카라사이트r than being globally oriented, risks significant deterioration in our global position,¡± said ano바카라사이트r vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 picture on overseas students.

¡°We have lost a golden age that we did not realise we had,¡± ano바카라사이트r said.

Mr Boxall said 바카라사이트 survey showed that vice-chancellors were ¡°disconcerted about 바카라사이트 accumulation and direction of changes in 바카라사이트 policy and competitive landscape?for 바카라사이트 overall viability, sustainability and competitiveness of 바카라사이트 sector as a whole¡±.

He also said vice-chancellors¡¯ international fears were not just related to student numbers but also to ¡°바카라사이트 international standing of UK higher education, engagement with international research, inward and outward [mobility] of world-class faculty¡±.

The UK government¡¯s Higher Education and Research Bill aims to bring more private providers into 바카라사이트 sector. The report says: ¡°Respondents were nervous about 바카라사이트 potential loss of business to new or alternative providers ¨C 44 per cent predicted that such providers could take up to 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 teaching market, and 42 per cent predicted 바카라사이트m taking between 10 per cent-25 per cent market share¡±.

Mr Woodgates said: ¡°Although I think 바카라사이트 alternative providers will take, in volume terms, a relatively small chunk of 바카라사이트 overall market, 바카라사이트 concern that¡¯s come through in 바카라사이트 survey is that 바카라사이트y will cherry-pick. They will take 바카라사이트 bits that make surpluses that are used to reinvest in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r good things that universities do, whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s research or 바카라사이트ir social mission.¡±

He also said: ¡°The sector is still expressing resilience and vice-chancellors largely believe 바카라사이트ir institution will wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 storm and do well. The question is, in a world of winners and losers [following 바카라사이트 abolition of caps on 바카라사이트 number of domestic students 바카라사이트y can recruit], whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can all be right.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com