Comments on: OfS assessment of university finances warns of need for structural change to stave off risks of provider collapse

By: KW

KW — Mon, 20 May 2024 09:16:36 +0000

What about research and civic contribution? In some parts of the country Universities are among the largest employers, so letting them close would have massive long term impact. I do see a future with fewer institutions but thinking that mergers are likely to start happening in the not too distant future. Better that than a skilled workforce with no jobs surely?

One way to mitigate this longer term is for the sector to work together and create its own vision for the future (no point waiting for the government on this) whether that is at regional or national level it has to be better than the potential to loose around 75% of the sector and its associated benefits.

By: Ian Scott

Ian Scott — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:53:24 +0000

More educated population don’t tend to vote for right wing governments, the government has had a dislike of universities since we all put up fees to the max – and the very existence of the post 92s has been a source of pain for the daily mail – so their will be no immediate help for the sector and many a tory thinking the current situation is a dream come true.

By: Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:32:19 +0000

Yes. Let’s all reduce the number of highly skilled, trained and educated folks in our economy – that will be a good thing, right? Have a suspicion, these people aren’t talking about ‘their’ kids/grandkids though.

Note Australia, Canada and others who are actively trying to grow the number of graduates in the economy. Where do you think the labour market is moving to? Less skilled?

By: JC

JC — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:32:04 +0000

@Paul Wiltshire If you look at the percentage of 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education, the OECD average is 47%. Capping at 15-20% would give the UK one of the lowest HE participation rates in the developed world.

By: Dr Paul Elmer

Dr Paul Elmer — Fri, 17 May 2024 09:38:07 +0000

Agree entirely. The proposed growth in the knowledge economy, an argument used to sustain expansion in the sector, was simply overstated. As a result, we ended up supplying too many graduates with skills that the labour market did not value. A structural change along the lines above could work – a different balance of vocational and non-vocational routes could help us fund more social mobility across the board, and secure better outcomes.

By: Paul Wiltshire

Paul Wiltshire — Fri, 17 May 2024 06:31:01 +0000

The University sector is bloated. It is producing far too many graduates with no greatly improved job prospects , and only a great big debt to show for their efforts. We need to cap numbers to around 15-20% of the population attending HE and then Govt subsidy can be spread less thinly. Creation of our next workforce should involve far more on the job training rather than an abstract academic degree course. Some Universities should convert to mainly providing degree apprenticeships, but many others are going to have to close.