Measures used to assess the value of a degree course could be
completely overhauled under proposals to government put forward
by Universities UK (UUK).
In future, government and universities would be able to use a new
tool which measures the value of individual subjects beyond just
graduate earnings. This could be to the benefit of students
themselves as well as to wider society and the economy.
In a major speech on the topic of value in higher education, UUK
President Professor Julia Buckingham called on government to
broaden its definition of ‘value’ beyond a student’s expected
future salary alone and to recognise the less celebrated, yet
vital benefits of studying for a degree. She also issued a
rallying call to the sector to do more to address concerns around
value and respond more effectively where there are legitimate
concerns.
To support the government in adopting a new approach, UUK is
outlining proposed new measures against which it believes
universities can demonstrate the success and contribution of
their courses. These include the proportion of graduates working
in essential public services, the number taking positions in
sectors and regions with skills shortages, or the likelihood of a
graduate starting their own business. The tool would allow
universities to assess and illustrate the wider benefits to
students of university life, such as their life satisfaction,
personal health and opportunities to get involved in volunteer
work.
Professor Julia Buckingham, President of Universities UK and
Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, said:
“While universities need to work collectively and respond more
effectively to legitimate challenges around the value of some
university degrees, government also needs to broaden its current
narrow definition of success based on salaries alone. This is a
blunt tool which does a disservice to students and recent
graduates, while failing to consider the wider student
experience.
“A much broader approach which takes account the other benefits
of a university degree would better reflect what is important to
students, parents, employers and society.
“We need to look beyond an individual’s P60 and think about the
total package of what they have learnt and achieved through their
time at university.”
As part of its response to the Augar Review of post-18 education
and funding, UUK established a number of Vice-Chancellor working
groups to consider the issues raised in the report.
Following research showing that students themselves do not see
future salary as the driving factor in their higher education
choices, the group exploring the value of a university education
is committed to making the case to government to adopt a broader
definition. This new framework will shortly be presented to
government to help identify what the wider themes of that
approach might be.
Notes:
Professor Julia Buckingham is giving the keynote address at
Advance HE’s ‘Let’s talk value’ conference in London. The full
speech is attached, or available from the UUK media team.
In September, Universities UK commissioned Savanta ComRes to
carry out research which found 84% of students and recent
graduates agreed that future salary was not the only factor in
choosing their degree. Eight in 10 surveyed thought the
government should do more to promote the wider benefits of
studying at university and define them more broadly than by
future earnings alone.
Currently the government’s analysis of educational outcomes known
as LEO (Longitudinal educational outcomes) is based on predicted
future earnings. Various concerns have been raised about this
approach, including from the minister who originally commissioned
the project.
