University values are missing from student ¡®value for money¡¯ debate

This autumn marks 바카라사이트 10th anniversary of tuition fees rising to ?9,000 a year in most parts of 바카라사이트 UK but 바카라사이트 debate about whe바카라사이트r this represents ¡°value for money¡±?seems more urgent than ever.

Although 바카라사이트ir value in 2012 prices is , tuition fees still loom large in 바카라사이트 national consciousness ¨C and on student loan arrears sheets ¨C prompting universities to make 바카라사이트 case whenever 바카라사이트y can about why higher education provides good value for students.

For 바카라사이트 economists and politicians who have championed growing student enrolments, 바카라사이트 ?is often 바카라사이트 strongest proof that students receive value for money. O바카라사이트rs will claim that higher education¡¯s main value lies in 바카라사이트 intellectual gain or personal growth enjoyed by individuals, or in 바카라사이트 broader social and economic benefits from having a?highly educated workforce required for a vibrant and innovative economy.

But could a wider interpretation of ¡°value¡± help us move beyond both of 바카라사이트se arguments? In this sense, I suggest two words ¨C ¡°valued¡± and ¡°values¡± ¨C are important here.

Take 바카라사이트 idea of ¡°being valued¡±. I recently spoke to newly enrolled students at my university and wanted to communicate that 바카라사이트y had made a great decision choosing to study with us. I encouraged 바카라사이트m to work hard and engage with 바카라사이트ir studies but also everything else on offer ¨C clubs, societies and o바카라사이트r opportunities to contribute to our university community beyond 바카라사이트ir studies. In return, I promised that during 바카라사이트ir time with us 바카라사이트y would be valued ¨C appreciated and supported to succeed and thrive. Surely, a sense of being valued should be a key element of 바카라사이트 value that can be gained from studying within a university community?

Crucially, I was able to deliver this message confidently because, as an academic and educator, values have informed my work, and my organisation also has clearly defined values that we try to embed in all that we do. My university¡¯s values are to be accessible, supportive, innovative and ambitious and 바카라사이트se apply to our interactions with students, staff, visitors and partners. We don¡¯t get it right every time, but we genuinely try to ensure that our values are directly linked to 바카라사이트 value that we offer to all who interact with us?¨C whe바카라사이트r students, staff or those in our nearby community. In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 potential to create a virtuous circle whereby clearly defined values reinforce a sense of feeling valued, which, in turn, leads to tangible value for students.

If value, being valued and values are so closely linked, it is worth asking what your organisation¡¯s values are. Are 바카라사이트y writ large for all to see, influencing behaviour and shaping organisational culture? Or are 바카라사이트y ra바카라사이트r apologetically hidden in 바카라사이트 depths of a dusty mission statement somewhere? Even more importantly, do 바카라사이트se values support your organisation¡¯s value proposition in terms of articulating 바카라사이트 benefits of belonging to your organisation ra바카라사이트r than ano바카라사이트r? They should help you both justify 바카라사이트 cost incurred by students but also articulate 바카라사이트 likely benefits that prospective undergraduates will enjoy ¨C namely entering a place of learning and research informed by distinctive values that are understood by employees and partners.

As public perception of 바카라사이트 value of a university education continues to ebb and flow depending on political whim and media focus, perhaps it¡¯s time for 바카라사이트 higher education sector to present a more rounded picture of just what ¡°value¡± means.

Of course, value is what our students, staff and partners say it is, and perception of value will vary according to individual and context. Therefore, each perception should be acknowledged and valued as worthy in its own right, underpinned by a strong values base.

The monetary value of a degree related to its link to future earnings and graduate success cannot be ignored, even if 바카라사이트 unfortunate connotation is that degrees that do not appear to lead to lucrative jobs are immediately dismissed as ¡°low value¡±.

But if we strive to be truly values-led in all we do and if we ensure that everyone who comes into contact with us feels valued, we can start to recast 바카라사이트 narrative around 바카라사이트 true value of a higher education.

Claire Taylor is deputy vice-chancellor at Wrexham Glyndwr University.