Lord Mandelson keynote speech at Lord Dearing Memorial Conference

Lord Mandelson delivered the keynote address at the Lord Dearing Memorial Conference held at the University of Nottingham in February 2010. Lord Mandelson commented on Lord Dearing's contribution to higher education: Lord Dearing was very clear that our higher education system was central to what made our society intellectually curious and critical, what made it …

“Universities are crumbling”…

...according to a "secret database" The Guardian claims a bit of a scoop following a Freedom of Information request on building conditions in universities: Scores of university halls of residences and lecture theatres in the UK were judged "at serious risk of major failure or breakdown" and "unfit for purpose", a secret database obtained after …

Annual review of university rankings

EUA to publish ‘annual review’ of worldwide university rankings EUA (the European University Association) has said it intends to publish an annual review of world university rankings. Given the growing number of league tables and rankings, national and international, and the impact of these on "decision-making and activities in universities across Europe" EUA has, rather …

International Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO)

OECD is undertaking a Feasibility Study for the International Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) The outline of the programme, published here, is as follows: The OECD Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) is a ground-breaking initiative to assess learning outcomes on an international scale by creating measures that would be valid for …

“Plagiarism up 700%” at University of Nottingham

Slight misinterpretation of non-comparable data According to a shocking report in Impact, which doesn't let facts get in the way of a sensational story, plagiarism is up 700% at the University of Nottingham: The University of Nottingham has insisted that cheating is not skyrocketing among its students, following the emergence of figures which show a …

Unofficial university promos

Contrasting unofficial university promo videos Certainly at least one of these is not endorsed by its University... Must admit I found it difficult to get past about 4 minutes on this one: No such trouble with this much more entertaining effort (not entirely suitable for younger viewers in parts).

Double standards on fees?

"Middle-class students face £7,000 wallop" Grave anxiety in the Times that middle-class students might have to pay higher contributions post-graduation: Students from middle-class families may be denied grants and cheap loans and be charged higher tuition fees under a “double whammy” to be considered by a government review of university funding. It could add nearly …

Some good news on widening participation

"Substantial increases in entry to higher education for disadvantaged young people" Widening Participation is working according to a new report from HEFCE: The study, conducted by Dr Mark Corver of HEFCE’s Analytical Services Group, finds that there has been a substantial and sustained increase in the HE participation rate of young people living in the …