Challenging minds in challenging times. A broad overview of the key issues surrounding Higher EducationChris Fuller, Learn with US Coordinator and Lecturer April 2010
2
Challenging minds in challenging times• Applications• Budget cuts• Admissions• Twenty-first century undergraduates
Applications.
4
University applications
Guardian, January 14, 2010
Sunday Times, January 17, 2010
Daily Telegraph, January 8, 2010
5
University applications
1980 – 20%
2007 – 44%
2010 target50%
% of eligible 18 – 30 year
olds in HE
Year
2008 – 09 HEFCE capped places at approximately c. 500,000 full-time
undergraduate places.
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
09 – 10 c.200,000 rejected*
* Estimated figures
08 – 09 c.150,000 rejected
10,000 full-time UG
5,000 part-time UG5,000 foundation
6
The admissions balancing act
7
Domestic vs. international intake‘HESA figures have reignited concerns that universities rely too heavily on international students. One in five degrees–undergraduate and postgraduate–went to students who came from outside the UK.’
Jessica Shepperd, Guardian, January 14, 2010‘Universities realise that the public purse is constrained […]. International students are perhaps the most obvious source of income.’
Les Ebden, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire
‘Some universities are very reliant on international students, and should learn from institutions that have had their fingers burned by relying on this source of income.’
John Craven, Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth
Admissions.
9
The Russell GroupAn association of the 20 most RESEARCH
INTENSIVE universities.
Advantages• Taught by staff at the
cutting edge of their subjects
• International reputation• Greater income and facilities due to research
funding
Disadvantages• Teaching staff heavily involved in research all
year round• International competition
• Greater demand for places and highest entry
grades
10
Competition for places (2009 – 10)Medicine – 206 places (17 applicants per place)Law – 155 places (10)Psychology – 150 places (10)Physiotherapy – 35 places (17)Mathematics – 150 places (8)Geophysics – 15 places (5)Criminology – 30 places (8)Computer Science – 80 places (10)
11
Independent vs. State School intake
Students in the UK
7% independently
schooled
20% of the University of Southampton’s 20,000 student intake comes from an independent
school background
12
Grades are important, but are a
part of a holistic process.• GCSEs
• AS grades• Number of re-sits• Subjects chosen
• A-levels• Additional experience
• Academic reference
• Personal statement
13
Widening Participation ProgrammesAccess to Southampton (A2S) This offers 19 degree programmes (including Chemistry, English, History, Nursing, Politics, Psychology and Sociology)
and 12 Foundation Years (including Aeronautics and Astronautics, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Physics)
Pathways to LawBM6 Medicine degree
If you feel your son or daughter is eligible for
any of these, encourage them to make use of them!
14
• Be in receipt of an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £20 or £30 a week
• Be in the first generation of immediate family to apply to Higher Education
• Have attended a secondary school which achieved less than 48% 5 A to C passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE in 2008
• Only option is to attend a local University
• Studies disrupted by circumstances in their personal, social or domestic life
• Living or grew up in public care
Twenty-first century
undergraduates.
16
Employability
The
Top 10
in demand global graduate jobs of 2010
did not exist
in 2007.US Department of Labor
17
Employability91%
of our 2008 graduates were employed or undertaking further study six months after graduation.Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2008
18
Personal statements
19
Personal statements
academic…
80%…but this can be flexible and
broad
20
Twenty-first century graduatesThe ideal graduate is "intellectually flexible", a
critical thinker and a team player; someone who could see their discipline in a wider context;
someone who is, above all, employable.
Source: University of Aberdeen, Curriculum Reform Consultation
intellectually flexible
critical thinkerteam player
see their discipline in a wider context
21
Transferable Skills
Proactivity
Commitment
Independent thinking
Initiative
IT skills
Decision making
Problem solving
Time management
Enthusiasm
Response to a challenge
Analytical
Research Skills
Team work
Leadership
CommunicationPresenting Business
acumen NetworkingSelf-
awareness
Foreign language
Numeracy
Problem solving
Flexibility
Summary.
23
Summary• Increased volume of applicants (quality vs.
quantity)• Picking the right institution (Russell Group vs.
others)• Applicants need to show intellectual flexibility and
breadth as well as quality• Fees and funding
- Post-election cuts (universities and loans?)- 2011 tuition fee cap review
• University remains the single best investment in ones future
Top Related