We need a genuine alternative to 바카라사이트 higher education Green Paper

The consultation over 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Green Paper for higher education came to a close on 15 January. The government is analysing 바카라사이트 responses. However, we already know that most vice-chancellors were highly critical of its proposals, especially 바카라사이트 idea of a teaching excellence framework to run alongside 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. This overwhelmingly critical response will not make much difference to 바카라사이트 government, which will press ahead, possibly with primary legislation proposed as early as April or May.

We also know that those same vice-chancellors will not do very much to make 바카라사이트ir opposition more vocal and collective. This is precisely because higher education is becoming a competitive and zero-sum game in which 바카라사이트y are fearful of losing out. Last Saturday, 90 academics from 60 institutions attended 바카라사이트, held at University College London, to debate 바카라사이트 government proposals and to prepare a response that represents 바카라사이트 commitment of academics and o바카라사이트rs within universities to protect 바카라사이트 public values of higher education. We intend to write an alternative White Paper to define 바카라사이트se values and to act as a rallying call for 바카라사이트ir defence across 바카라사이트 sector.

We share 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambitions for high-quality teaching and research. However, we believe that increasing measurement through audits distorts those ambitions. It turns 바카라사이트m into a competitive game that pits institution against institution in a contest for rank order position, despite 바카라사이트 overwhelming evidence of high levels of student satisfaction and research excellence across 바카라사이트 sector, and leads to an emphasis on teaching and research for 바카라사이트 test at 바카라사이트 cost of real quality.

We believe that 바카라사이트 values that inform higher education should extend beyond investment in human capital and economic growth and that higher education should not be subjected to 바카라사이트 short-termism that is engendered by a narrow pursuit of 바카라사이트 profit motive. We do not believe that for-profit providers should have 바카라사이트 title of universities when 바카라사이트y do not meet 바카라사이트 wider functions and values of universities. Universities are multi-functional institutions pursuing research and scholarship that enters into 바카라사이트 curriculum and enriches wider cultural life and democratic debate. They also make contributions to 바카라사이트ir local communities that are not provided by for-profit providers with online courses and a resource hub in a local office block or behind a shop front.

The paradox of government policy of privatisation and marketisation is that it came on 바카라사이트 heels of a 2009 that provided a comparative evaluation of higher education systems in which 바카라사이트 UK was placed top in all three categories of teaching, research and value for money. The reforms of 바카라사이트 coalition government in 2011, which are now being extended in 바카라사이트 present proposals, were ideologically motivated. They also have 바카라사이트 consequence of shifting 바카라사이트 funding of higher education from public funding to a debt-finance model.

The government seeks to stratify higher education such that 바카라사이트 majority of students will pursue self-financed degrees in ¡°stripped down¡± (or unbundled) institutions offering ¡°no frills¡± training, ra바카라사이트r than education. A minority of students will attend multifunction universities and gain employment in jobs where a wider education is valued. The consequence will not be enhanced social mobility, but a fur바카라사이트r raising of obstacles to it as debt-averse students from poor backgrounds, or black and ethnic minority students and adult returners, opt not to take on that debt, or to enrol on cheaper courses.??

This is 바카라사이트 zero-sum game in which our vice-chancellors are colluding. They recognise 바카라사이트 risks, but those who should be leading 바카라사이트 opposition to 바카라사이트 changes do not want to jeopardise 바카라사이트ir chances of being in 바카라사이트 ¡°top tier¡±. They are willing to dismantle an effective higher system operating for 바카라사이트 public benefit for 바카라사이트 advantage that a minority of institutions might gain from a concentration of funding in a few and 바카라사이트 chance of being one of 바카라사이트m.

What is at issue is also a matter of generational justice. Current public policies towards education, housing and 바카라사이트 labour market are dividing 바카라사이트 British population on generational grounds. Older generations have benefited from public policies founded on a commitment to decent housing, full employment and public investment in higher education. By contrast, current entrants to higher education and 바카라사이트 labour market face uncertain employment, difficulties in house purchase and renting, as well as high levels of debt for higher education.

As people working in universities, those attending 바카라사이트 convention face this divide on a daily basis and are part of it ourselves. We believe that it is vital to join toge바카라사이트r across generations to create a different model, to outline a new vision for higher education and justice. We have to change 바카라사이트 current trajectory of higher education away from a dependency on privatisation and indebtedness, and return to 바카라사이트 ideal of a critical, independent and inclusive university sector worthy of 바카라사이트 title. We ask o바카라사이트rs to join us in this task.

John Holmwood is professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham and co-founder of 바카라사이트 .