Destruction of UKHE

[tizalinatuna]

The discussion here is invariably about mechanics of applying, rankings etc, but how aware are you of what is unfolding in UKHE? Yesterday it was announced that Philosophy, Comp Lit, English Language and Linguistics and a raft of other smaller departments (successful ones, but just not attracting international students) at Univ of Kent are closing. This is just the latest in a long and ongoing line. Maths and Music shut at Oxford Brookes, Modern Languages at Aberdeen etc etc. So we are headed for 20/30 unis (aka Russell Group) with, on one hand, huge classes, largely filled by international students and taught by teaching assistants and, on other a dearth of subject choice in non RG, mainly non Arts and Humanities, again with large class sizes, where lecturers exist in permanent precarity. Does this concern any of you when you help your students make their choices?

HE like any business, requires students to remain financially viable.

Banal response. Philosophy at Kent has plenty of students and million pound grants. This is about insufficient domestic fee level and sense that international students only want Law, Business etc. has implications here. But you jog on with your non analysis.

Yes, it concerns me. It reflects what is happening in schools too, with many subjects being dropped from the curriucuim or not offered at GCSE and A Level. Funding crisis is the cause.

If I understand it correctly there’s a massive funding crisis in HE and a consequent recruitment and retention crisis too. Tell prospective families that the £9.25k they pay isn’t enough and you get zero sympathy, because to most of them, that’s huge money and many think it’s not good value for money. People don’t realise that in terms this might be the equivalent of £6k when that level of fees was set.

Feels like the system is polarising and resources and students flock to RG unis and all the funding goes with them. If we want HE for a decent chunk of the population a massive injection of cash is needed. But that’s not likely to be forthcoming and sadly it seems like a lot of departments and certain universities will be eroded. It is shocking.

Likewise, parents seem oblivious to the crisis in schools, with funding and recruitment and retention and their kids increasing key being taught by TAs or non-specialists in exam years. Often people don’t wast to know or feel helpless. Thoroughly thoroughly depressing.

It isn't just non-RG unis and arts / humanities subjects. York is closing its highly ranked School of Natural Sciences, I believe due to costs.