This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-13927710

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Universities shake-up calls for more competition Universities will have to bid for quarter of places
(about 1 hour later)
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondentBy Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
A planned shake-up of higher education in England, being set out to MPs, aims to increase competition and give consumer powers to students. Universities in England will have to compete against each other and private providers for a quarter of their student places.
Universities will be able to compete for some places, including with the private sector, and be held accountable for the quality of their teaching. Universities Minister David Willetts has published plans to increase market forces in higher education in England.
Universities Minister David Willetts said the White Paper aimed to put "students in the driving seat". Promising to put "students in the driving seat", he announced that there would be 20,000 places reserved for degrees with fees less than £7,500.
Labour's John Denham attacked the plans as "unfair and unsustainable". Labour's Gareth Thomas said that it was "expansion on the cheap".
Students have reacted angrily to the plans, which Mr Willetts is outlining to parliament. The controversial plan to create extra places not funded by the government has also resurfaced - on the basis that it will be restricted to those sponsored by a business or a charity.
President of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter, warned that many students would face "complete market chaos and real uncertainty about their universities and courses". There are also proposals to allow students to make an early repayment on their loans - a politically sensitive suggestion which raises the prospect of better-off students not paying as much as those who pay back their loans over several decades.
The president of Oxford University Student Union, David Barclay, said: "Dressing up the White Paper with the language of student choice is like putting lipstick on a pig... Education is not a commodity to be bought and sold." Private providers
Teaching quality The White Paper, called Students at the Heart of the System, brings forward plans to make universities bid for a proportion of their places - and a higher proportion than had been anticipated.
Speaking earlier on the BBC's Today programme, Mr Willetts said that under the new system, "money will go with students" and that universities that are successful in attracting students should be able to expand. This raises the prospect that some universities will lose student places - and Mr Willetts said that no government could offer a guarantee that courses or even institutions might not close as a result.
The government wants to encourage more market forces in higher education by promoting consumer choice and making universities more accountable to students paying higher fees. From 2012, universities will be able to compete against each other in bidding for 65,000 places for students achieving AAB grades at A-level or better - rather than simply being allocated quotas, as they are now.
This will include plans for inspections to be triggered if there are concerns about the quality of courses or teaching standards. This will mean that universities, if they want to expand, can offer an unlimited number of places to students getting these grades, drawing them away from what might have been a second choice institution.
But this is likely to have only a marginal impact on most universities. According to an analysis by the 1994 Group of universities, the majority of universities have fewer than 5% of students with these grades.
There will also be 20,000 places allocated on the basis of "good quality" and "value for money" at institutions charging £7,500 or less per year.
Since a high proportion of university degree courses are above this level, these places could be taken by an expanded private sector or courses provided through further education colleges.
University title
In terms of improving social mobility, there had been discussion of changing the admissions system to allow applications after students knew their exam results - which previous official reports had recommended as fairer.
But a decision on this will not be considered until a review reports back next year.
The White Paper also promises to reduce barriers to private providers entering higher education.
This includes a review of the use of the term "university" as a title.
There will also be an emphasis on improving the information available to students.
Last week the Higher Education Funding Council announced that universities would have to publish key information about courses, such as the average salary of former students, the cost of accommodation, teaching hours and satisfaction ratings from previous students.
The funding council will itself have a new role as a "consumer champion" for students.
There will also be plans for inspections to be triggered if there are concerns about the quality of courses or teaching standards.
Mr Willetts said a "crucial" element of the changes was that students should receive better information on issues such as contact hours with academic staff and job prospects.Mr Willetts said a "crucial" element of the changes was that students should receive better information on issues such as contact hours with academic staff and job prospects.
"This will give a real incentive for universities to focus on the quality of the teaching experience for students," he said."This will give a real incentive for universities to focus on the quality of the teaching experience for students," he said.
The White Paper will set the landscape for higher education at a time when many students will be paying tuition fees of £9,000 per year.
The overall number of university places is expected to be kept at about the current level but there will be measures to encourage more competition between institutions.
Universities will be allowed to create more places for the most talented applicants - those with at least grades AAB at A-level.
But this is likely to have only a marginal impact on most universities. According to an analysis by the 1994 Group of universities, a majority of universities have fewer than 5% of students with these grades.
And it is expected there will also be more room for expansion for those universities willing to charge lower fees of around £6,000 per year.
But Labour's universities spokesman, Gareth Thomas, said this would be a "race to the bottom", designed to push down the overall cost of student loans, when many more universities than anticipated opted to charge the maximum fee.
Private sector
Universities are also set to bid for a proportion of places above a "core" number.
As well as competing with each other, universities will also compete with private providers.
At present there are only five private bodies in England with degree-awarding powers - but it is expected that this could increase.
And there are plans to remove barriers to new providers, which could mean more private institutions being set up or partnerships between public universities and the private sector.
Mr Willetts said such institutions would in future be "regulated on the same basis as everyone else".
And he said he also wanted existing universities "to be in the mindset they are not in the public sector".
The government wants a more flexible choice for students in a more "liberalised" higher education market.
As an example, the Open University will offer courses through local further education colleges.
Student charter
There will be a "student charter" setting out their rights if there are disputes over the quality of courses or facilities.There will be a "student charter" setting out their rights if there are disputes over the quality of courses or facilities.
Last week the Higher Education Funding Council announced that universities would have to publish key information about courses, such as the average salary of former students, the cost of accommodation, teaching hours and satisfaction ratings from previous students. Earlier, students reacted angrily to the plans.
The funding council will itself have a new role as a "consumer champion" for students. President of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter, warned that many students would face "complete market chaos and real uncertainty about their universities and courses".
John Denham, the shadow business secretary, dismissed the plans, saying: "It's a shambles, they're making it up as they go along." The president of Oxford University Student Union, David Barclay, said: "Dressing up the White Paper with the language of student choice is like putting lipstick on a pig... Education is not a commodity to be bought and sold."
John Denham, the shadow business secretary, dismissed the government's plan, saying: "It's a shambles, they're making it up as they go along."
He argued that the White Paper is an attempt by the government to get itself "off the hook" after universities set tuition fees at a higher level than expected.He argued that the White Paper is an attempt by the government to get itself "off the hook" after universities set tuition fees at a higher level than expected.
"The main driver in what they're doing today is to try to drive down the cost of some universities - but I fear at the cost of the quality of the education - and that's not a good deal for students," said Mr Denham."The main driver in what they're doing today is to try to drive down the cost of some universities - but I fear at the cost of the quality of the education - and that's not a good deal for students," said Mr Denham.
Lecturers also attacked the proposals as an attempt by the government to recover from having lost control of fees. Lecturers also attacked the proposals as an attempt by the government to recover from having lost control of fee levels.
"Trying to force down the cost of a degree after the government got its sums wrong will not solve the funding crisis it created," said Sally Hunt, leader of the University and College Union."Trying to force down the cost of a degree after the government got its sums wrong will not solve the funding crisis it created," said Sally Hunt, leader of the University and College Union.
Competition on price will not affect Scottish students in Scotland's universities where there are no tuition fees. In Wales there are plans for Welsh students at Welsh universities to receive a subsidy covering increased tuition fees.Competition on price will not affect Scottish students in Scotland's universities where there are no tuition fees. In Wales there are plans for Welsh students at Welsh universities to receive a subsidy covering increased tuition fees.
A decision on tuition fees and support for students at Northern Ireland's universities is expected in the autumn.A decision on tuition fees and support for students at Northern Ireland's universities is expected in the autumn.