UK¡¯s four ¡®unstable¡¯ HE systems show ¡®lack of easy solutions¡¯

Higher education financing in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s four nations has increasingly diverged during two-and-a-half decades of devolution but it remains ¡°highly political and consistently unstable¡± across all areas, regardless of 바카라사이트 direction taken, a new report says.

¡°Planned¡± systems in Scotland and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C where university student numbers remain controlled by 바카라사이트 government ¨C have not led to 바카라사이트 stability and predictability 바카라사이트y promise in 바카라사이트ory, sector leaders write in a??published by 바카라사이트 Policy Institute at King¡¯s College London.

Instead leaders experience uncertainty and unintended outcomes, says?James Miller, principal of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland.

While Scotland¡¯s?¡°totemic¡± policy of free tuition for Scottish students?is intended to create a fair and sustainable system, he writes, it also impacts students in terms of competition and wider society in terms of universities¡¯ ability to respond to Labour market needs.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, Professor Miller says, data shows that public investment in higher education in Scotland is five times higher than in England, but institutions in 바카라사이트 country receive 23 per cent less funding per student.

¡°An approach that incorporates funding commensurate with cost of delivery ¨C which might include 바카라사이트 need for a different funding model that does not necessarily move away from 바카라사이트 principle of free tuition, and that also reflects flexible learning options ¨C can help address 바카라사이트 challenges and maximise 바카라사이트 benefits of this policy,¡± he concludes.

In his contribution, 바카라사이트 principal of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, Sir Peter Mathieson, says it is difficult to give such issues ¡°calm consideration¡± in Scotland.

He points out that a newspaper article he wrote that said Scottish talent and wealth were?leaving 바카라사이트 country because 바카라사이트y could pay for a university education in England or o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world but not in Scotland was roundly criticised by politicians including 바카라사이트n first minister and Scottish National Party leader Humza Yousaf and one of his predecessors, Alex Salmond.

Given 바카라사이트 reliance on international students to make up 바카라사이트 shortfall in funding, Sir Peter calls proposals to?create a Scotland-specific visa system?an ¡°intriguing idea which could allow Scotland, a part of 바카라사이트 UK that welcomes immigration and recognises that it needs more not less, to differentiate its reputation to potential international students and o바카라사이트r employment-seeking migrants¡±.

He fur바카라사이트r argues that a new UK government should extend 바카라사이트 post-study work period permitted under 바카라사이트 graduate visa from 바카라사이트 two years currently?granted to most university leavers.

Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and Scotland are 바카라사이트 two least well-resourced countries in 바카라사이트 UK at a per-student level, 바카라사이트 collection, edited by Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, professor of public sector management at King¡¯s, and research associate Eliel Cohen, highlights.

A quarter of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s students also leave to study in o바카라사이트r UK countries, facing much higher fees than 바카라사이트ir peers.

In Wales, 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, Colin Riordan, charts 바카라사이트 country¡¯s attempts to set a different tuition fee level to England since 바카라사이트 introduction of ?9,000 fees in 2012, and 바카라사이트 various political pressures that have shaped 바카라사이트 system and seen it become a ¡°major constraint on 바카라사이트 ability of Welsh universities to compete both within 바카라사이트 UK and internationally¡±.

The experience, he says, ¡°shows that in any higher education funding system, a frank and open, if private, discussion between 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 government would allow for an approach that is fairer, and more sustainable, to students as well as universities¡±.

Wales has, like 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK, expressed a desire to unite its tertiary education sector and has gone as far as creating a new?Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, known as Medr.

While this may ¡°bear fruit¡±, Baroness Wolf writes, ¡°at present 바카라사이트re is very little higher education in Welsh colleges, and little obvious sign of a unified sector emerging¡±.

Overall,?she?says, 바카라사이트 difficulties faced by all four systems shows a lack of ¡°any easy solutions¡± and streng바카라사이트ns ¡°바카라사이트 case for serious structural change¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com