Media Lens Message Board: More Evidence of the NuLab assault on the Universities.

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More Evidence of the NuLab assault on the Universities.

Posted by Hidari on November 3, 2009, 7:16 pm

'The government cannot order universities to change their admissions procedures but yesterday's plan will put new pressure on them to do so. The move is part of a major overhaul of the university system that will see a fundamental shift in degree teaching away from 18-year-olds doing three-year courses when they leave school, towards more mature students undertaking part-time degrees while working.

Universities should focus more on practical training and science and engineering courses with links to industry, the document says.

Mandelson was immediately accused of commercialising higher education amid fears that the tradition of liberal arts degrees could be sidelined in favour of more "utilitarian" industry-focused degrees....

The document describes how universities have enjoyed a "benign financial climate" in recent years and warns this high level of public funding cannot continue. "That is why the development of a diverse set of funding streams is important if the quality of higher education is to be maintained and improved," it says. That is widely expected to include higher tuition fees from students after the review of top-up fees....

Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said: "There's no one headline-grabbing proposal in this document. But no one should underestimate that this is a fundamental shift towards consumer elbow power, particularly from students and business.

"It's worrying if we send a message to students that the only courses that are worth pursuing are the ones that give financial rewards later on or have an economic utility. The recommendations on social mobility are fantastic. For too long universities have dragged their heels on widening participation. This could have a transformative impact."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "The government and the opposition are in danger of creating a worrying agenda that is focused purely on trying to justify the cost of a degree."'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/nov/03/peter-mandelson-university-review-modernisation

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Re: More Evidence of the NuLab assault on the Universities. - Hidari November 3, 2009, 7:58 pm

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--Previous Message-- : 'The government cannot order universities to : change their admissions procedures but : yesterday's plan will put new pressure on : them to do so. The move is part of a major : overhaul of the university system that will : see a fundamental shift in degree teaching : away from 18-year-olds doing three-year : courses when they leave school, towards more : mature students undertaking part-time : degrees while working. : : Universities should focus more on practical : training and science and engineering courses : with links to industry, the document says. : : Mandelson was immediately accused of : commercialising higher education amid fears : that the tradition of liberal arts degrees : could be sidelined in favour of more : "utilitarian" industry-focused : degrees.... : : The document describes how universities : have enjoyed a "benign financial : climate" in recent years and warns this : high level of public funding cannot : continue. "That is why the development : of a diverse set of funding streams is : important if the quality of higher education : is to be maintained and improved," it : says. That is widely expected to include : higher tuition fees from students after the : review of top-up fees.... : : Wes Streeting, president of the National : Union of Students, said: "There's no : one headline-grabbing proposal in this : document. But no one should underestimate : that this is a fundamental shift towards : consumer elbow power, particularly from : students and business. : : "It's worrying if we send a message to : students that the only courses that are : worth pursuing are the ones that give : financial rewards later on or have an : economic utility. The recommendations on : social mobility are fantastic. For too long : universities have dragged their heels on : widening participation. This could have a : transformative impact." : : Sally Hunt, general secretary of the : University and College Union, said: : "The government and the opposition are : in danger of creating a worrying agenda that : is focused purely on trying to justify the : cost of a degree."' : : : http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/nov/03/peter-mandelson-university-review-modernisation :

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