Firsts and fees, plagiarism and pay hikes (and the rest)
No dumbing down here – is this the most comprehensive HE piece ever? Daily Mail online has a terrific piece which manages to conflate a host of different higher education issues within a single kick ass column. On the back of recent HESA data which shows an increase in the number of students achieving first … Continued
No dumbing down here – is this the most comprehensive HE piece ever?
Daily Mail online has a terrific piece which manages to conflate a host of different higher education issues within a single kick ass column. On the back of recent HESA data which shows an increase in the number of students achieving first and upper second class degrees the article moves on to plagiarism, league table corruption, commercialisation (not clear if good or bad), the optionality of HEAR (bad?), an ‘expert’ view of classifications, coercion of external examiners, VC pay increases and fee rises in the context of declining HE funding. Unbelievable? Perhaps it would be fairer to let the piece speak for itself:
The number of students awarded first-class degrees has more than doubled over the last decade.
A record one in six graduates obtained the top qualification last year, prompting fresh concerns about grade inflation and the value of degrees.
One expert says that degree classifications are now ‘almost meaningless’.
The trend has fuelled demands for a major overhaul of the system, with the introduction of a ‘starred first’ degree for the brightest graduates.
A feast of higher education comments
According to figures released yesterday by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 53,215 graduates gained firsts in 2010/11 compared with 23,700 in 2000/01.
A decade ago, nine per cent of graduates gained the top classification. By 2010/11 the proportion getting firsts had risen to 15.5 per cent.
HESA also provided detailed data covering the period between 2006/7 and 2010/11, when there was a 45 per cent increase in the number of students gaining firsts.
Sixty-six per cent of degrees obtained by women were firsts or 2.1s in 2010/11 compared with 61 per cent of those achieved by males.
High scores: More students are graduating and with better grades than in the past, despite accusations of commercialism and anti-intellectualism
Demands for reform of degree classification have increased over recent years amid claims that some lecturers turn a blind eye to plagiarism to help their institutions climb official league tables.
University whistle-blowers have also alleged that external examiners have been ‘leaned on’ to boost grades.
Universities have been asked to adopt a new graduate ‘report card’, providing a detailed breakdown of students’ academic achievements plus information about extra-curricular activities. However, they cannot be forced to.
Professor Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University, said: ‘The inflation in degree classes is rendering them almost meaningless.
‘Employers have to look at A-level results and the university at which the degree is being obtained.’
The heads of elite universities are raking in average pay packages of almost £318,000 ahead of the tripling of tuition fees.
Many vice chancellors are enjoying salary rises when higher education has seen its funding slashed and students are being forced to pay up to £9,000 a year in fees.
A veritable smorgasbord of entertaining higher education observations. All in one short piece. Truly the Mail is spoiling us. We may never see the like again.
4 responses to “Firsts and fees, plagiarism and pay hikes (and the rest)”
This works as a brilliant parody of the laziest education journalism that can often take place in the non specialist press. E.g. fitting slot A into tab B, and repeating every three months. But this takes it to a whole new level. Amazing.
This works as a brilliant parody of the laziest education journalism that can often take place in the non specialist press. E.g. fitting slot A into tab B, and repeating every three months. But this takes it to a whole new level. Amazing.