By David Williams
03 August 2009
An MPs’ report has called for radical cultural change in universities, arguing that standards are inconsistent across the sector, and that part-time and mature students are discriminated against.
The Commons universities, science and skills select committee found ‘defensive complacency’ among higher education bosses. The university leaders were also criticised for not questioning an increase in the proportion of students gaining first and 2:1 grades over the past 15 years.
Vice-chancellors were unable to explain to the committee whether first-class honours degrees from different universities represented the same standard of learning. The report, released on August 2, said this was ‘unacceptable’.
The MPs said the regulation system was out of date. They recommended the existing Quality Assurance Agency be replaced by a new Quality Standards Agency.
Support for mature and part-time students amounted ‘to a form of discrimination’, the MPs found. Committee chair Phil Willis said universities must offer direct financial support and become more flexible generally to attract and retain more of these students.
‘To remain competitive in the twenty-first century, the complacency we detected must be addressed,’ he said.
‘We are extremely concerned that inconsistency in standards is rife and there is a reluctance to address this issue.’
Willis added that bursary schemes, introduced to mitigate the effect of top-up fees on poorer students, are failing to widen participation or provide fairer access. He called for a national needs-based system.
03 August 2009
An MPs’ report has called for radical cultural change in universities, arguing that standards are inconsistent across the sector, and that part-time and mature students are discriminated against.
The Commons universities, science and skills select committee found ‘defensive complacency’ among higher education bosses. The university leaders were also criticised for not questioning an increase in the proportion of students gaining first and 2:1 grades over the past 15 years.
Vice-chancellors were unable to explain to the committee whether first-class honours degrees from different universities represented the same standard of learning. The report, released on August 2, said this was ‘unacceptable’.
The MPs said the regulation system was out of date. They recommended the existing Quality Assurance Agency be replaced by a new Quality Standards Agency.
Support for mature and part-time students amounted ‘to a form of discrimination’, the MPs found. Committee chair Phil Willis said universities must offer direct financial support and become more flexible generally to attract and retain more of these students.
‘To remain competitive in the twenty-first century, the complacency we detected must be addressed,’ he said.
‘We are extremely concerned that inconsistency in standards is rife and there is a reluctance to address this issue.’
Willis added that bursary schemes, introduced to mitigate the effect of top-up fees on poorer students, are failing to widen participation or provide fairer access. He called for a national needs-based system.
