Tag Archives: Social mobility

Lessons from the land of the free? This side of the pond has a lot to offer, too.

Fraser Nelson’s article in the Daily Telegraph today paints a picture of UK universities which is unrecognisable to anyone who has any engagement with today’s sector. By any measure, the UK university sector is a global success story. It ranks … Continue reading

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Build evidence base to support postgraduate education

Today the Higher Education Commission will formally present the findings from its inquiry into postgraduate education. This report is timely because it highlights some of the key issues that have been receiving considerable attention of late. Since the publication of … Continue reading

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Contextual data in admissions – It’s the evidence, stupid.

Last week, this blog focused on the use of ‘contextual data’ – i.e. considering applicants’ schooling or family background – in the admissions process. The central question was whether universities are engaging in social engineering, or simply striving for excellence by … Continue reading

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Contextual data: contributing to social mobility or simply social engineering?

Over the last few months we have seen universities attacked in the media for using ‘contextual data’ in their admissions processes. Their consideration of an applicant’s school, where they live and their family’s socio-economic background, alongside their academic achievements, is … Continue reading

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What does summer 2012 hold for students and universities?

For many of us involved in higher education, the arrival of summer signals the start of our silly season, with the exception of anything to do with admissions, which are always far from silly and tend to be rather intense.  … Continue reading

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Don’t dwell on the past – we must be ambitious to succeed in this brave new world

A retrospective outlook in the higher education sector is damaging the UK’s economic growth and global competitiveness, asserts Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK Universities in the UK are outstandingly strong on many measures, including: teaching and research, business-industry … Continue reading

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It’s time to collaborate on access

Alan Milburn’s report on social mobility, due in the spring,  will address the thorny question of how universities can continue to work together with schools and colleges to ensure anyone with the potential to go to university is not put off … Continue reading

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An excellent and diverse higher education sector is key to improving social mobility

Social mobility is now the new holy grail of public policy and while most universities have made great progress, all universities should come to view it as part of their core mission, Alan Milburn told Universities UK’s annual conference this … Continue reading

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