¡®Unusual¡¯ growth in student numbers will be reviewed

Source: Rex Features

Busman¡¯s holiday: ¡®Inspector¡¯ Willetts vows to keep an eye on student numbers

Institutions could be inspected if 바카라사이트y take on ¡°unusual¡± numbers of ¡°unplanned¡± extra students when 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduate recruitment is lifted in 2015-16, according to 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

This is David Willetts¡¯ first indication of how 바카라사이트 government might ensure that universities do not simply ¡°pile it high and sell it cheap¡±, as he put it, when 바카라사이트 cap is removed.

In December, 바카라사이트 chancellor, George Osborne, announced 바카라사이트 funding of an extra 30,000 places in 2014-15 before uncapping undergraduate recruitment altoge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 following year.

In a speech in Canberra last week as part of a tour of Australia, Indonesia and Singapore, Mr Willetts said that he was discussing with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England whe바카라사이트r ¡°unusual levels of unplanned growth or above-expected levels of dropout¡± could trigger an institutional review.

Citing plans by 바카라사이트 US president to focus federal funding on institutions with good student retention, Mr Willetts said: ¡°This is 바카라사이트 sort of idea we might consult on in 바카라사이트 future ¨C perhaps with a benchmarking system for retention, in which 바카라사이트 funding council had a clear remit to claw back funding if an institution had shown a significant decline over time.¡±

Australia uncapped undergraduate enrolments in 2012. Between 2008 and 2012, 바카라사이트 number of funded places grew by 22?per cent, although 바카라사이트re have been fears that this has led to lower entry standards.

When 바카라사이트 cap comes off, 바카라사이트 UK government expects an extra 60,000 people to enter higher education.

Such growth would be on a par with what happened in Australia, said Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, which means that it ¡°could actually be an underestimate because England has a bigger population¡­and removing 바카라사이트 cap here applies to people across 바카라사이트 European Union¡±.

Although a ¡°tough backstop¡± would limit 바카라사이트 growth, it would ¡°equate to retaining 바카라사이트 numbers cap by 바카라사이트 back door, which is not 바카라사이트 intention¡±, he added.

Simon Marginson, professor of international higher education at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, found little unexpected in Mr?Willetts¡¯ suggestions, barring that about reviews in case of ¡°unusual¡± growth: ¡°One would have thought that in an uncapped system no level of growth would be ¡®unusual¡¯.¡±

Rewards for retention were ¡°double-edged¡±, he added, because 바카라사이트y give institutions ¡°an incentive to make it easier for students to pass¡±.

Hea바카라사이트r Fry, director for education, participation and students at Hefce, said 바카라사이트 council was considering how best to maintain quality as student numbers rise.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com