Are we too concerned with measuring Universities’ performance?
Are university league tables a good thing or are they causing our education establishments to spend time focusing on the wrong things? The Guardian’s Peter Scott investigates and finds that Universities are manipulating the data they report just to make themselves look good.
Should University Access be Available for Everyone?
According to a recent report, only 3% of disadvantaged 18-year-olds get places in the top universities. This compares unfavourably with the 21% of those from more privileged backgrounds. Professor Patrick McGhee asks whether Universities should be doing more for social mobility in education.
Charlotte von Bulow, Chief Executive at Crossfields Institute, says:
“The debate about social mobility and fairer access to elite Universities is a merry-go-round of category mistakes and moving goalposts. There is hope, however, in Professor McGhee’s article when he writes: ‘Should the debate not be about a fair system for access to the professions rather than securing fair access to an unfair filtering system?’
To this excellent question I would like to add the following: rather than being concerned with fairer access to elite universities, we need to work on multiple levels to ensure that a) the quality of higher education in universities across the nation has the appropriate breadth and depth to make a significant contribution to the development of individual potential, and b) that the access and social mobility issue is about receiving high quality higher education and not merely associating with brand names.”
Please see other articles on our blog with regard to the social mobility question.
Rise in Undergraduate Applications, Fall in Part-time and Mature Students
The number of students applying for full-time undergraduate applications is rising, yet this conceals a decline in the number of part-time and mature students. Jack Grove from timeshighereducation.co.uk investigates…
Charlotte von Bulow, Chief Executive of Crossfields Institute, says:
‘There are variables and multiple complex factors involved in the following questions: who chooses to go to University, who chooses not to go and who applies and doesn’t get in. There is no doubt that it has become harder to inspire and attract mature part-time students over the years. So, if the data is indeed correct, the overall picture presented in this article is perhaps not surprising. I have to agree with Mike Boxall, however, that we need to look closely at the “more complex recruitment picture faced by universities”. Before we can draw conclusions about trends, we need to investigate the methodologies used in the development of these statistics and we need to look at the recruitment and admissions reality alongside that. Maybe the picture that is presented here is connected with the social mobility question?’
Please see other articles on our blog with regard to the social mobility question.
Crossfields Institute honours Jimmy Anderson, MBE
Crossfields Institute honours Jimmy Anderson, MBE, who passed away on the 4th of February 2015. Jimmy and his wife Pauline were among the most significant pioneers of biodynamic and organic farming in the UK. Together, they founded ‘Farm Future’ and Jimmy served as the leader of the Demeter Certification Scheme. In 1999, Jimmy was awarded an MBE for his services to Organic Farming and in 2011, he was honoured with the Biodynamic Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering work within both the BDA and Demeter. Jimmy may have left this world but he continues to serve us as a role model. His love for the land, for the beauty of all things and his dedication to his family shines forth.
Jimmy is the father of Fergus Anderson, Lecturer within the Faculty for Environment and Transdisciplinary Studies at Crossfields Institute.
We hold Jimmy in our hearts and minds as he continues his journey.