|
b u l l e t i n the University of Sussex newsletter
contents
Dearing Inquiry
The Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, headed by Sir Ron Dearing, has asked universities to respond to a list of over 100 questions (anyone wishing to see the full list should write for a copy to Alan Soutter, Planning Office, Sussex House).
We considered these at our recent Management Committee retreat and out of the discussion have distilled a number of key questions on which we would like your views. (They are not in any order of importance.)
- What defines a University?
- What values should attach to University education in the next decade?
- How can the dual funding system for research (from HEFCE and the Research Councils) be strengthened?
- To what extent should student numbers in specific subjects be centrally planned?
- How different will an undergraduate experience be in the next decade, and what are the implications for the curriculum and delivery of teaching?
- Would there be advantages in a 2-year 'Associate' degree which could be followed by 2 years to an 'Honours' degree?
- How should academic pay and wage structures be determined?
- What arguments can be deployed to counter the imposition of national curricula for higher education? Are there any arguments for national curricula?
- . Is an income contingent loan scheme for students (possibly on the Australian model) the best way to proceed, given that a return to a full government grant is highly unlikely?
- Should different university missions be explicitly recognised and differentially funded?
- Should some universities be teaching-only institutions and what are the consequences?
Please write to me c/o Alan Soutter, Planning Office, Sussex House, by the end of the month.
Professor Gordon Conway Vice-Chancellor
contents
|