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UK slipping down graduate league | UK slipping down graduate league |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
The UK is slipping behind its international rivals in the number of graduates, according to a report. | |
Between 2000 and 2008, it fell from third highest to fifteenth among top industrialised nations for the proportion of young people graduating. | Between 2000 and 2008, it fell from third highest to fifteenth among top industrialised nations for the proportion of young people graduating. |
The UK now trails higher education systems in Poland, Iceland, Portugal and Slovakia. | |
This means it is not a good time to cut investment in university, says the report from the OECD. | |
The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says there are no signs that the increased cost of university is outweighing the benefits to students. | The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says there are no signs that the increased cost of university is outweighing the benefits to students. |
"Fewer people with qualifications will mean a less successful economy," says Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's special adviser on education. | "Fewer people with qualifications will mean a less successful economy," says Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's special adviser on education. |
"Cutting education is going to cut the tax returns of the future." | "Cutting education is going to cut the tax returns of the future." |
Strong competition | Strong competition |
The Russell Group of leading universities has warned that further cuts would relegate the UK's higher education system "to a lower division of higher education quality from which we would struggle ever to recover". | The Russell Group of leading universities has warned that further cuts would relegate the UK's higher education system "to a lower division of higher education quality from which we would struggle ever to recover". |
This annual report from the OECD surveys the changes in education systems in almost 40 leading industrialised economies. | This annual report from the OECD surveys the changes in education systems in almost 40 leading industrialised economies. |
It shows strong international competition to expand higher education - with the proportion of young people getting degrees in OECD countries doubling between 1995 and 2008, from 20% to 40%. | It shows strong international competition to expand higher education - with the proportion of young people getting degrees in OECD countries doubling between 1995 and 2008, from 20% to 40%. |
The UK has been increasing the number of students, but the OECD report says that it has failed to keep pace with the even more rapid growth elsewhere. | The UK has been increasing the number of students, but the OECD report says that it has failed to keep pace with the even more rapid growth elsewhere. |
The UK lags behind countries including Poland, Australia, Ireland, the Slovak Republic, Portugal and the Czech Republic - as well as the traditional high performers such as Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. | |
Finland has the highest graduation rate among young people - 46% of men and 80% women - compared with 30% of men and 40% of women in the UK, with these latest OECD figures drawn from 2008. | Finland has the highest graduation rate among young people - 46% of men and 80% women - compared with 30% of men and 40% of women in the UK, with these latest OECD figures drawn from 2008. |
The OECD's report, which looks at education from an economic perspective, argues that both individuals and the wider economy gain an advantage from increasing graduate numbers. | The OECD's report, which looks at education from an economic perspective, argues that both individuals and the wider economy gain an advantage from increasing graduate numbers. |
Mr Schleicher says that unemployment rates remain much lower for graduates than non-graduates. | Mr Schleicher says that unemployment rates remain much lower for graduates than non-graduates. |
Graduates are also continuing to earn more than non-graduates - even though in the UK there has been an erosion of that advantage. | Graduates are also continuing to earn more than non-graduates - even though in the UK there has been an erosion of that advantage. |
The report also shows that about one in four graduates in the UK take non-graduate jobs. | The report also shows that about one in four graduates in the UK take non-graduate jobs. |
Lack of places | Lack of places |
Taxpayers benefit from investing in higher education, says the OECD. Even though the government subsidises students, this is outweighed by the increased revenue from higher tax from better-paid jobs. | Taxpayers benefit from investing in higher education, says the OECD. Even though the government subsidises students, this is outweighed by the increased revenue from higher tax from better-paid jobs. |
The OECD says that in the UK each extra graduate brings $89,000 (£58,000) to the taxpayer over a working life. | |
While the UK was slipping behind, Mr Schleicher identified Australia and New Zealand as this year's high achievers at university level - and highlighted the success of Finland, Japan and Canada at school level. | While the UK was slipping behind, Mr Schleicher identified Australia and New Zealand as this year's high achievers at university level - and highlighted the success of Finland, Japan and Canada at school level. |
Tens of thousands of applicants failed to get university places in the UK this year - with tough financial constraints on extra places. | Tens of thousands of applicants failed to get university places in the UK this year - with tough financial constraints on extra places. |
Universities and student leaders have also warned about the impact of any further public spending cuts. | Universities and student leaders have also warned about the impact of any further public spending cuts. |
"At a time when many of our competitors are investing in higher education and research as a way out of the recession, we cannot afford to be left behind," says Steve Smith, president of Universities UK. | |
President of the National Union of Students Aaron Porter said: "With the UK already being left behind other countries in its graduation rates and public funding, a double whammy of short-sighted funding cuts and arbitrary limits on student places will make matters far worse in the years ahead." | President of the National Union of Students Aaron Porter said: "With the UK already being left behind other countries in its graduation rates and public funding, a double whammy of short-sighted funding cuts and arbitrary limits on student places will make matters far worse in the years ahead." |
Sally Hunt, head of the UCU lecturers' union, warned that the "coalition government's refusal to fund sufficient university places this summer will come back to haunt us". | Sally Hunt, head of the UCU lecturers' union, warned that the "coalition government's refusal to fund sufficient university places this summer will come back to haunt us". |
"Today's report shows a worrying decline in the UK's standing in the world of education. We have plummeted down the graduate league table, going from a major player to a relegation candidate in less than a decade," she said. | "Today's report shows a worrying decline in the UK's standing in the world of education. We have plummeted down the graduate league table, going from a major player to a relegation candidate in less than a decade," she said. |
Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of leading universities, warned that other countries would benefit if the UK cut spending. | Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of leading universities, warned that other countries would benefit if the UK cut spending. |
"While our universities are bracing themselves for a period of austerity and uncertainty, other nations are rightly pumping billions of dollars into their institutions at this key time before the world economy picks up," said Dr Piatt. | "While our universities are bracing themselves for a period of austerity and uncertainty, other nations are rightly pumping billions of dollars into their institutions at this key time before the world economy picks up," said Dr Piatt. |
Universities Minister David Willetts said the report showed that higher education "faces some real challenges, which the government is determined to tackle". | Universities Minister David Willetts said the report showed that higher education "faces some real challenges, which the government is determined to tackle". |
"We have already taken action to boost student numbers by funding an extra 10,000 places and more people than ever are starting university this autumn." | "We have already taken action to boost student numbers by funding an extra 10,000 places and more people than ever are starting university this autumn." |
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