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Universities leader rejects Jo Johnson criticism of standards Universities leader rejects Jo Johnson criticism of standards
(about 9 hours later)
Today’s students work hard and demand top-quality teaching rather than “coasting” through soft degree courses as suggested by ministers, according to the UK’s most senior university leader.Today’s students work hard and demand top-quality teaching rather than “coasting” through soft degree courses as suggested by ministers, according to the UK’s most senior university leader.
Sir David Eastwood, vice-chancellor of Birmingham University and chair of the Russell Group of leading research institutions, rejected criticism from the higher education minister, Jo Johnson, who said British universities were guilty of grade inflation and failed to offer value for money. Sir David Eastwood, the vice-chancellor of Birmingham University and chair of the Russell Group of leading research institutions, rejected criticism from the higher education minister, Jo Johnson, who said British universities were guilty of grade inflation and failed to offer value for money.
Citing the international renown of UK universities, including the high demand for places among overseas students and high levels of satisfaction among British undergraduates, Eastwood said Johnson’s comments did not match reality.Citing the international renown of UK universities, including the high demand for places among overseas students and high levels of satisfaction among British undergraduates, Eastwood said Johnson’s comments did not match reality.
“If you look internationally, the reputation of UK universities stands high,” Eastwood said in an interview with the Guardian. “Why do students from China, Hong Kong or other far eastern countries want to come to the UK? Because they see these universities offer high-quality teaching.”“If you look internationally, the reputation of UK universities stands high,” Eastwood said in an interview with the Guardian. “Why do students from China, Hong Kong or other far eastern countries want to come to the UK? Because they see these universities offer high-quality teaching.”
Eastwood said students were now more demanding in terms of how they are treated by universities, and were willing to work hard in return.Eastwood said students were now more demanding in terms of how they are treated by universities, and were willing to work hard in return.
“There’s a seriousness on the part of this generation of students, a commitment and an expectation that they will get high-quality teaching, that they will get good feedback, they will have appropriate results,” he said.“There’s a seriousness on the part of this generation of students, a commitment and an expectation that they will get high-quality teaching, that they will get good feedback, they will have appropriate results,” he said.
Eastwood, who has previously led the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the University of East Anglia, also said tuition fees in England – capped at £9,000 a year – would have to rise to prevent an erosion of standards, especially in more expensive science and technology subjects.Eastwood, who has previously led the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the University of East Anglia, also said tuition fees in England – capped at £9,000 a year – would have to rise to prevent an erosion of standards, especially in more expensive science and technology subjects.
This week in his first major policy speech since taking the higher education portfolio, Johnson described teaching as “the weakest aspect of English higher education” and said improving it was “vital unfinished business”. He said the current system of degree classifications “permits some to coast”. He said many full-time students were still not being sufficiently stretched. This week in his first major policy speech since taking the higher education portfolio, Johnson described teaching as “the weakest aspect of English higher education” and said improving it was “vital unfinished business”. He said the current system of degree classifications “permits some to coast” and many full-time students were still not being sufficiently stretched.
Eastwood said Johnson’s claims were not borne out by national student surveys showing that the vast majority were satisfied with their courses. He said Johnson had failed to take account of how student work ethic had changed since the introduction of fees. Eastwood said Johnson’s claims were not borne out by national student surveys showing that the vast majority were satisfied with their courses. He said Johnson had failed to take account of how students’ work ethic had changed since the introduction of fees.
“I think the rhetoric around problems with teaching and the reality are really rather divergent,” Eastwood said. “All of the evidence that I know, and certainly the evidence in a university like Birmingham, is that we’ve always taken results seriously.“I think the rhetoric around problems with teaching and the reality are really rather divergent,” Eastwood said. “All of the evidence that I know, and certainly the evidence in a university like Birmingham, is that we’ve always taken results seriously.
“My view is that in universities like this one, the quality of teaching is high, the commitment to teaching is high and that the value that students get – both from academic programmes and from the other opportunities that universities provide – suggest that they get good value for money.“My view is that in universities like this one, the quality of teaching is high, the commitment to teaching is high and that the value that students get – both from academic programmes and from the other opportunities that universities provide – suggest that they get good value for money.
“When you are talking about more than four-fifths of students being satisfied with the quality of their higher education, that’s not a figure that would be achieved in many other [countries’] higher education systems.”“When you are talking about more than four-fifths of students being satisfied with the quality of their higher education, that’s not a figure that would be achieved in many other [countries’] higher education systems.”
The latest national survey, of 320,000 final-year undergraduates found that 87% were satisfied with the teaching on their course, rising to 89% at Russell Group universities such as Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham.The latest national survey, of 320,000 final-year undergraduates found that 87% were satisfied with the teaching on their course, rising to 89% at Russell Group universities such as Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham.
Figures published this week showed an increase in the proportion of recent graduates in employment, with more than 93% of those who graduated last year either in full-time work or further study.Figures published this week showed an increase in the proportion of recent graduates in employment, with more than 93% of those who graduated last year either in full-time work or further study.
Eastwood rebutted Johnson’s comments that teaching was a weak spot for British universities. “There was a time, 10 years or so ago, when it could be argued that the career incentives in universities were tilted too far towards research. I don’t think that’s now the case,” he said. “At Birmingham you can be promoted to professorial rank on the basis of the quality of your teaching and your commitment and excellence in education.” Eastwood rebutted Johnson’s claim that teaching was a weak spot for British universities. “There was a time, 10 years or so ago, when it could be argued that the career incentives in universities were tilted too far towards research. I don’t think that’s now the case,” he said. “At Birmingham you can be promoted to professorial rank on the basis of the quality of your teaching and your commitment and excellence in education.”
Tuition fee increases are unlikely in the current financial climate but Eastwood said that “at some point” the fee would have to rise or be indexed to inflation.Tuition fee increases are unlikely in the current financial climate but Eastwood said that “at some point” the fee would have to rise or be indexed to inflation.
“The Russell Group has a concern over the funding of high-cost subjects, notably science subjects,” Eastwood said. Government funding of science, technology, engineering and maths [Stem] courses covers around half the extra cost of teaching them. “The Russell Group has a concern over the funding of high-cost subjects, notably science subjects,” Eastwood said. Government funding of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) courses covers about half the extra cost of teaching them.
“Given that we have turned around the demand for Stem subjects, and the demand for Stem degrees in high-quality universities is very buoyant, our argument to government is: you wouldn’t want to compromise that when business and industry are saying that there are skill shortages.“Given that we have turned around the demand for Stem subjects, and the demand for Stem degrees in high-quality universities is very buoyant, our argument to government is: you wouldn’t want to compromise that when business and industry are saying that there are skill shortages.
“The student demand is there to enable us to provide the skills that industry is demanding. But it’s important that we’re resourced to be able to do that.”“The student demand is there to enable us to provide the skills that industry is demanding. But it’s important that we’re resourced to be able to do that.”
Universities might have to wait a few years before a tuition fee increase becomes politically feasible. “My guess – but it is only a guess – is that in the second half of this parliament there will be a move to ease some of the public spending targets, for a variety of reasons that have to do with an election in 2020,” Eastwood said.Universities might have to wait a few years before a tuition fee increase becomes politically feasible. “My guess – but it is only a guess – is that in the second half of this parliament there will be a move to ease some of the public spending targets, for a variety of reasons that have to do with an election in 2020,” Eastwood said.
“Come 2017-18, it’s an argument which might be winnable: some indexation of the [tuition] fee coupled with enhanced investment, particularly in the high-cost subjects.” “Come 2017-18, it’s an argument which might be winnable: some indexation of the fee coupled with enhanced investment, particularly in the high-cost subjects.”