gillymac, my dh is an academic and has some strong views on this subject, related to the fact that universities have been underfunded for a generation (i.e. since 1979), yet student numbers are ever increasing and goverment targets have them set to rise still higher. the numbers just don't work out i'm afraid. it is not possible to keep on increasing student numbers without the corresponding increase in funding. where is this to come from? there are a number of ideas being considered, of which top up fees is one. others include a graduate tax, or there is of course an increase in taxes. many university teachers work for slave wages (e.g. £6,000 p.a.) on short term contracts with no security whatsoever. this is after after at least five years worth of studying. as with so many public sector workers, the system relies on the vocational commitment of the staff to keep running.
we have been saving up since ds was born on the assumption that the current university system is untenable, and that we - rather than the state - will have to fund his higher education.
and now I'm putting dh on!
erm... bit scared to post on the mighty mumsnet, but... yes, universities are in a very bad way indeed. I know academics - like farmers - are always complaining, and that it's better at the top end (although Oxford have ended their one to one tutorial system recently as it's too expensive) but things really are very bad. Student numbers have been increasing steadily (which is in itself a very good thing, I think)but the resources have been declining (which is a very bad thing). Universities are stretched beyond the limit, pay for staff is rubbish (worse than for school teachers) and short term contracts are endemic.
It's hard to describe the creeping despair in Higer Education. We have endured endless quality assessments, we give really good vaue for money (last week an OECD survery rated Britain No 1 for the best universities with the best value for money), we meet the targets set from us by the govenment, we bring billions into the UK economy from overseas, we stimulate industry - from pubs for students in run down cites to high tech biotechnology - and - oh yes! - we train all the teachers, doctors, journalists, managers, accountants, nurses, internet site setter-uppers etc etc. Things might have been easier 40 years ago, but they aren't now.
I hate the idea of top-up fees, of course, but seeing as Higher Education is not going to get any more money from the government (who, perhaps rightly, are concetrating on primary and secondary education) we have to do something to save ourselves, or else we might as well pack up and go home.
What will happen is this: the best 10 or so universities will set huge fees and be excellent, with lots of scholarships: the next rank (about 30 or so) will be in a constant struggle and will be slightly worse than now: the bottom 50 universities will become even more huge and anonymous institutes, with huge drop out rates (50%), very poor resources and teaching and little or no research. How do I know? Because that's what the US HE system is like.
this is bk again - i said he has strong views on this!