low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World UK UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health |
| Education |
|
Correspondents How the Education Systems Work |
| Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
Universities look to US system
Are British universities becoming more and more like their American cousins?
First there was the introduction of student fees. Now the government has put up signposts pointing universities towards shorter degrees and on-line courses. Could the next step be top-up fees at elite universities?
As the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, set out his vision for the future of British universities, I was struck by the similarity to what I experienced recently during a four-month fellowship at the University of Michigan.
First there was the introduction of student fees. Now the government has put up signposts pointing universities towards shorter degrees and on-line courses. Could the next step be top-up fees at elite universities?
As the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, set out his vision for the future of British universities, I was struck by the similarity to what I experienced recently during a four-month fellowship at the University of Michigan.
A British university education still looks like a Rolls Royce service for a Mini Clubman price. But things are changing fast.  |
Although it is not an Ivy League institution, Michigan is one of the United States' most prestigious public universities. Public universities are much cheaper than their private counterparts, but by British standards they still look expensive.
Students from the state of Michigan pay annual fees of $6,000 (around £3,600) a year. Those from outside the state pay $20,000 (£12,000). Living costs come on top of this.
So an out-of-state student at Michigan will pay almost £50,000 in fees to obtain a typical four-year Bachelor's degree.
This does not buy them small classes or one-to-one tuition. First year classes are several hundred strong, and even higher level undergraduate courses will have enrolments of up to 100. Most other contact with professors will be by e-mail.
'Awkward transition'
By these standards, a British university education still looks like a Rolls Royce service for a Mini Clubman price. But things are changing fast.
Our universities are still in the awkward transition between the old, elite service for the few and a cheaper mass system for the many.
Just consider the numbers: in the 1960s just 5% of the age cohort went to university. Those lucky enough to make it received free tuition and grants to cover living costs.
Now, with over 30% going into higher education, students must pay fees and, apart from low-interest loans, are largely on their own in paying their living costs.
The new two-year vocational degrees are intended to broaden access to university to help the government meet its target of 50% of adults experiencing higher education. They are also recognition of the fact that many young people are not willing to invest three years' worth of fees and delayed earnings to get a degree.
In the US there is already a two year "associate" degree option. Students can pursue these in either the fast-growing community college sector or at universities. It is quite common for people to get their associate degree, work for a few years, and then return to upgrade it to a full degree after a further two years study.
Another American import is the growing use of the internet for educational and commercial purposes. At Michigan, the university already operates by using e-mail and the internet, even for students resident on campus.
Students from the state of Michigan pay annual fees of $6,000 (around £3,600) a year. Those from outside the state pay $20,000 (£12,000). Living costs come on top of this.
So an out-of-state student at Michigan will pay almost £50,000 in fees to obtain a typical four-year Bachelor's degree.
This does not buy them small classes or one-to-one tuition. First year classes are several hundred strong, and even higher level undergraduate courses will have enrolments of up to 100. Most other contact with professors will be by e-mail.
'Awkward transition'
By these standards, a British university education still looks like a Rolls Royce service for a Mini Clubman price. But things are changing fast.
Our universities are still in the awkward transition between the old, elite service for the few and a cheaper mass system for the many.
Just consider the numbers: in the 1960s just 5% of the age cohort went to university. Those lucky enough to make it received free tuition and grants to cover living costs.
Now, with over 30% going into higher education, students must pay fees and, apart from low-interest loans, are largely on their own in paying their living costs.
 'Professors and students communicate almost entirely by e-mail'
|
In the US there is already a two year "associate" degree option. Students can pursue these in either the fast-growing community college sector or at universities. It is quite common for people to get their associate degree, work for a few years, and then return to upgrade it to a full degree after a further two years study.
Another American import is the growing use of the internet for educational and commercial purposes. At Michigan, the university already operates by using e-mail and the internet, even for students resident on campus.
Undergraduates are the cash-cows of American universities, herded through vast, impersonal courses. |
For example, course descriptions exist only on the university website; there are no printed copies. Professors and students communicate almost entirely by e-mail.
Like other universities, Michigan is now looking at delivering distance degrees via the internet. It is a potentially very lucrative market.
David Blunkett made it clear in his recent Greenwich speech that he expects British universities to start to raise more of their own funds.
He also announced the creation of "e-universities" to be run by consortia of "real" universities. The government has recognised that learning has become "big global business" and wants to ensure Britain gets a slice of the action. But the Americans were there first and have more financial muscle.
Alumni associations
Watch out too for another characteristic of American universities: alumni associations. Former students now find themselves on university data-bases which are used to offer commercial services, such as university credit cards, and to promote fund-raising events.
British universities are still amateurs at this game by comparison with American universities, which all have thriving alumni associations.
At Michigan, for example, former students keep their university e-mail address for life. Commercial companies would pay the university a fortune for access to its e-mail lists; so far the university has refused, seeing greater opportunities to make money by providing its own services to almuni.
Such is the interest of the alumni that University of Michigan football matches attract a regular home game crowd of 111,000. Former students will travel hundreds of miles to see their old college team play. A pay-TV service of college sport is one of many commercial ideas the university is considering.
The growing Americanisation of our universities may be inevitable, but there are costs. Undergraduates are the cash-cows of American universities, herded through vast, impersonal courses.
Students, aware of their growing debts, often want to speed through their courses as efficient note-takers but with little interest in time-consuming intellectual discussion. The spread of internet lecture note services has even taken away the need for students to turn up on campus at all.
While few would want to go back to the narrow and exclusive university system of the past, the dangers of universities become "global businesses" is that the students get less and less as they pay more and more.
Like other universities, Michigan is now looking at delivering distance degrees via the internet. It is a potentially very lucrative market.
David Blunkett made it clear in his recent Greenwich speech that he expects British universities to start to raise more of their own funds.
He also announced the creation of "e-universities" to be run by consortia of "real" universities. The government has recognised that learning has become "big global business" and wants to ensure Britain gets a slice of the action. But the Americans were there first and have more financial muscle.
Alumni associations
Watch out too for another characteristic of American universities: alumni associations. Former students now find themselves on university data-bases which are used to offer commercial services, such as university credit cards, and to promote fund-raising events.
British universities are still amateurs at this game by comparison with American universities, which all have thriving alumni associations.
At Michigan, for example, former students keep their university e-mail address for life. Commercial companies would pay the university a fortune for access to its e-mail lists; so far the university has refused, seeing greater opportunities to make money by providing its own services to almuni.
Such is the interest of the alumni that University of Michigan football matches attract a regular home game crowd of 111,000. Former students will travel hundreds of miles to see their old college team play. A pay-TV service of college sport is one of many commercial ideas the university is considering.
The growing Americanisation of our universities may be inevitable, but there are costs. Undergraduates are the cash-cows of American universities, herded through vast, impersonal courses.
Students, aware of their growing debts, often want to speed through their courses as efficient note-takers but with little interest in time-consuming intellectual discussion. The spread of internet lecture note services has even taken away the need for students to turn up on campus at all.
While few would want to go back to the narrow and exclusive university system of the past, the dangers of universities become "global businesses" is that the students get less and less as they pay more and more.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Links to other Education stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~44~RS~)