The Chancellor’s pre-budget report makes grim reading for higher education. The key paragraph notes the following savings:
“£600 million from higher education and science and research budgets from a combination of changes to student support within existing arrangements; efficiency savings and prioritisation across universities, science and research; some switching of modes of study in higher education; [...]
The latest report on the ‘added value’ of universities in this country undertaken by academics at the University of Strathclyde for Universities UK, has found that “Universities in the UK now generate £59 billion for the UK economy putting the higher education sector ahead of the agricultural, advertising, pharmaceutical and postal industries, according to new [...]
On the 3rd November, Lord Mandelson announced what his Department of Business, Innovation and Skills described as “a new framework for the future success of higher education”. Perhaps this could lead to a certain kind of success, but it hammers with renewed vigour another nail into the coffin of universities in the UK.
As his Department [...]
The time has come to ignite a debate about the real purpose of universities in the UK. I believe passionately that universities should be about the advancement of knowledge, and the pursuit of excellence in research and teaching; they are not just about further education for the masses. All too often universities in the UK [...]
The OECD has recently (2008 ) published an important monograph entitled Higher education to 2030 (Volume 1): demography (read only version) In summary, this assumes that:
There will be continued expansion of student participation, with majority female participation, greater variation in student profiles and increased emphasis on issues of access and equality.
The academic profession is to [...]
Tim is BBC technology infoDev