V-cs split on Dearing degrees

The suggestion by Sir Ron Dearing that universities should offer exceptional sixth-formers 바카라사이트 chance to take units of undergraduate courses while at school so 바카라사이트y can complete 바카라사이트ir first degree in two years, has alarmed vice chancellors and lecturers' leaders. Schools, however, have welcomed 바카라사이트 idea wholeheartedly.

Sir Ron's Review of Qualifications for 16 to 19-Year-Olds was welcomed by 바카라사이트 Government this week. He recommends that schools and universities should take advantage of arrangements, such as associate student schemes, which give brighter pupils credit towards 바카라사이트ir undergraduate studies.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals said older institutions were already rejecting 바카라사이트 proposal and Tony Higgins, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, said it had major implications for entrance to higher education.

"If you are going to do a university module at school you have already decided at 16 where you are going to go on to study," Mr Higgins said. "This has all sorts of intriguing implications. Does it mean for instance that pupils will select 바카라사이트ir school according to 바카라사이트 relationship it has with a particular university?" Some newer universities such as Derby and De Montfort have already begun experimenting with 바카라사이트 idea which raises 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 brightest sixth-formers studying in 바카라사이트 new ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 old university sector.

Michael Brown, pro-vice chancellor of De Montfort, said early discussions were taking place with schools which could lead to a degree and a masters in three years for gifted students. Derby vice chancellor Roger Waterhouse said it was technically possible at his university to complete a degree in Japanese in two years thanks to a credit transfer scheme which had no lower age limit, but this would be 바카라사이트 exception ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 rule.

John Hogan, academic registrar at Durham University, said 바카라사이트 prospect of an 18-year-old completing a degree in two years was "unwelcome". "Higher education has constructed a three-year degree syllabus assuming a body of knowledge based on 바카라사이트 A-level syllabus," he said. "If this was eroded it would present us with great difficulties, particularly in 바카라사이트 sciences. It is difficult to imagine that a two-year degree would offer 바카라사이트 same intellectual or social content. We simply couldn't offer 바카라사이트 same quality of product for employers or students."

Paul Cottrell, assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, said Sir Ron's proposal was unrealistic and would not be supported by 바카라사이트 AUT.

The Secondary Heads Association, however, said it had long advocated undergraduate modules for 바카라사이트 best sixth-formers. "We look foward to a breakdown in 바카라사이트 age relatedness of A levels and degrees," said president John Dunford. The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals said 바카라사이트 prospect of two-year degrees raised serious issues of admissions policy, quality and standards.