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31 Mar 2010 16:50:26
A new report on the future of postgraduate education has been given a cautious welcome by University of Bedfordshire Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon, CBE.
Professor Ebdon, who is chair of the university think-tank million+, said the report One Step Beyond: Making the most of postgraduate education commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) offered a welcome focus on the UK’s postgraduate provision. But he expressed concern that many questions about the future of postgraduate study were left unanswered by the report of Professor Adrian Smith and his team.
Professor Ebdon said: “The million+ report A Postgraduate Strategy for Britain: Expanding Excellence, Innovation and Opportunity made clear how modern universities are working closely with employers and equipping postgraduates with the higher level skills that they, and the economy, need. Professor Smith’s report concludes that this is exactly the sort of provision that should be encouraged. A total of 37 per cent of all postgraduate students in the UK study at modern universities and the potential of these universities to drive innovation and growth is clear.”
Professor Ebdon added: “I also welcome the fact that proposals to concentrate doctoral research funding in just a handful of universities have been dropped.
“However, this report leaves many questions unanswered. It asks the Higher Education Funding Council for England to explicitly fund research quality over research volume, yet it fails to make a firm commitment to fund world-leading research wherever it is found.
“By encouraging the development of research centres and arguing for critical mass, the recommendations could undermine universities that have proved themselves to be fleet of foot at developing postgraduate opportunities in emerging areas and it could limit attempts to widen participation in postgraduate study.
“Finally, by leaving the door open for Lord Browne’s fees review to divert funding from undergraduate teaching to postgraduate provision, the report risks reducing undergraduate opportunities and damaging the chances of many for whom a first degree is a life changing experience.”
Latest news» 2010» March» Vice Chancellor gives postgraduate report cautious welcome
