The problem is the dependence of UK universities (except Buckingham) on public (i.e., taxpayers) funding. This, of course, leads to supervision by public agencies. Some universities could charge higher tuition fees but are not allowed to because of government controls in support of the 'one size fits all' philosophy. This creates the anomaly that all UK universities are presumed to be of the same quality. Nobody believes this, either students or faculty, or for that matter administration or even government. Differential fees are feared in case they create a 'two tier' university system. In fact we have such a system now (though it is probably a five tier system, if truth be told). EBS is not publicly funded at all and never has been. Our university is publicly funded, but fund flows between us are one way, from EBS to the University. EBS sets its own charges (lower than many state subsidised Business Schools) - and we have more students than most - and we have a tougher exam regime. It is a case study of how UK university education ought to be run in the future. The notorious high fees charged by state subsidised universities to non-EU countries (most poorer than EU countries) is one example of inequitable provision from state sponsored intervention. Soft exam regimes to cope with wide entry provision (or compulsive inclusion philosophies), is another example, raising costs and lowering standards. The OU and Birkbeck are hoisted in their own petards. Set them free and they could do much better. Sacking staff/cutting recruitment is not always an unmitigated disaster. Output measures of performance rather than establishment numbers are more reliable. Distance Learning, not Distance Teaching (the OU resource intensive model), is a solution to the fees problem, not more subsidies and, therefore, more interference.
I don't know much about Open University. But since both I and my brother earned Master's degrees at Birkbeck, I thought I'd make a few comments. Birkbeck has always been amongst the most plebeian tertiary-level institutions in the U.K. George Birkbeck taught at Anderson's College (now University of Strathclyde) in Glasgow. Anderson's College focused on education for the working class. Birkbeck later moved to London where (in 1824) he founded the London Mechanics Institute, which also served the working class. London Mechanics Institute subsequently became Birkbeck College as part of the University of London. Birkbeck today continues to focus on the provision of tertiary-level education for working people (though not now not focused necessarily on the working class). I summarize this history to illustrate that Birkbeck is at the very opposite end of the spectrum compared to the elite universities that are much discussed in the top-up fees debate. (And also because Professor Kennedy's post reminded me that we have Scotland to thank for the existence of Birkbeck as we know it!) The fear now is that funding difficulties may make “part-time study a middle-class luxury” (in words from the Guardian article). This is clearly inconsistent with Birkbeck’s original raison d’être. Moreover, the funding difficulties are likely to force Birkbeck to focus on more practical academic fields where the return on investment is more apparent to students. Whether this is good or bad depends on one’s perspective. I have always been happy that Birkbeck doesn’t have business degrees (i.e. no MBA, though they do have programs in economics and finance). My brother’s Master’s degree was in Imperial History (which didn’t damage him too much because he went on to be director of information services for a very large British university). On the other hand, some laugh at Birkbeck’s programs in subjects such as “garden history.” So perhaps a shake up wouldn’t be “an unmitigated disaster.” But I do hope when I look at Birkbeck’s catalogue in a few years that I see more than programs in management, IT, psychology and other “practical” fields.
UK Postgraduate Programs Does anyone know if this price hike affects as well post-graduate programs? Thanks
