For-profit universities could damage the reputation of UK higher education!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Warnborough, Jun 16, 2011.

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  1. Warnborough

    Warnborough Member

    Last year the concern of academics was on falling standards at UK universities, and this year the scandal of several UK universities offering off-shore programmes with 'little quality or supervision'. Now:

    Senior academics in the UCU lecturers' union have said they fear expansion of for-profit universities could damage the reputation of higher education in the UK.

    BBC News - Professors' caution over for-profit universities
     
    Warnborough, Jun 16, 2011
    #1
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I chalk this up to a combination of (1) how ivory tower academics hate anything that actually makes money, and (2) a bit of fear about how more entries into the UK higher education industry might affect them personally. They can see how American academic sinecures are under fire, and with UK budgetary woes already impacting UK universities, I can see how they might find the threat of proprietary schools offering cost effective alternatives to be unsettling.

    -=Steve=-
     
    SteveFoerster, Jun 16, 2011
    #2
  3. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    What Steve said.
     
    b4cz28, Jun 16, 2011
    #3
  4. major56

    major56 Active Member

    The education industry (publically funded) will employ the approaches to 1) discredit and/or 2) legislate as regards the endeavor to eliminate or largely limit the growth of market competition. Follow the money alongside the vested interests …

    And it’s not merely limited to post-secondary education either:

    Re Educators wary of new online education law (The Salt Lake Tribune 06/15/11)
    Educators wary of new online education law | The Salt Lake Tribune
     
    major56, Jun 16, 2011
    #4
  5. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Maybe I am not clear on how accreditation in the UK works, but doesn't the "government" accredit schools in the UK? Do the for profit schools have the same level of accreditation?
     
    friendorfoe, Jun 16, 2011
    #5
  6. Sauron

    Sauron New Member

    I may be a bit out of touch but I would not like to see a UoP in the UK. Even in American dollars isn't a UK degree program inexpensive?
     
    Sauron, Jun 16, 2011
    #6
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    These are good points and I'd like to add another. Based on Warnborough's previous postings it seems that the reputation of British degree programs is already suffering quite a bit. Perhaps these esteemed professors should look more to cleaning up their own acts rather than criticizing others.
     
    Kizmet, Jun 16, 2011
    #7

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