Minister: strip degree powers if graduate employment falls short

Gavin Williamson tells English regulator it ‘should not hesitate’ to issue fines if planned absolute baselines are not met

Published on
February 8, 2021
Last updated
February 9, 2021
Chris Havergal
Tarantula
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Reader's comments (4)

#1 Submitted by m.... on February 9, 2021 - 12:23pm
Gavin Williamson clearly has no clue what higher education is about. Best check where he went and consider whether THEIR degree-awarding powers should be questioned considering the ignorance he displays.
#2 Submitted by philip.... on February 9, 2021 - 8:24pm
Graduate job prospects are a direct function of entry requirements. My university lowered admission requirements because it would have otherwise gone bust. That's because a) the pandemic led to a decline in international students, b) EU students were chased away by the higher tuition fees after Brexit, and c) the UCAS debacle led to swaths of our students go to higher-ranked institutions instead. Lowering entry requirements was the only way to keep student numbers constant and survive. But lower requirements also mean lower average ability to learn and perform well on the job market later. As much as we try to transform our customers into job market killers, there is only so much quality material we can work with. Are we now going to be punished for our poor graduate employment outcomes a.k.a. low entry tariff?
#3 Submitted by fairdeal on February 10, 2021 - 11:27am
Hang on a second SpammerSlammer. "But lower requirements also mean lower average ability to learn and perform well on the job market later" - don't tarnish all lower grade entrants with the same brush. I studied for my degree when I was turned 40 at Northumbria. I had no previous qualifications unless you want to count an 'O'level in art. A blended learning programme meant I could continue to work full time and study around family commitments eg divorce, parental death, empty nest syndrome, moving house 3 times. With the support of the university and mentor I am proud of the 2:1 outcome and completed the programme in less than 18 months. I've gone on and achieve an MA in Education and I'm an administrative manager in HE. My son who went in to nursing at 18 with a health and social care certificate, which are devalued by universities as they are not a true A level, came away with a First. He has done his master's and is now an Advance Clinical Practitioner in ICU currently treating COVID-19 patients. So SpammerSlammer maybe you should think before you speak as many of your so called "lower average ability to learn and perform" students go on to very successful careers.
#4 Submitted by fairdeal on February 10, 2021 - 11:53am
I don't think Gavin Williamson lives in the real world when talking about graduate employment. Graduate salaries in the UK can vary considerably within like for like jobs and across the spectrum of career fields. In areas of Lancashire and West Yorkshire salaries can be considerably lower than other areas of the UK. Also, the students aims and ambitions can be influenced to them working within family businesses which may not attract a 'talent' salary. in 2014/15 the estimated income for a self employed person (new start up) was in the region of £11k. Blackpool average household income £17k. I did a quick job search for a personal assistant to a senior manager, in Edinburgh and London I came across salaries of £30-34k in West Yorkshire the same type jobs were attracting between £19-23k. So if I got a PA job in London or Edinburgh I wouldn't be able to buy a house or flat and rental would guzzle up most of the pay packet. I might just be able to buy a house in Lancashire or West Yorkshire on a £23k salary, I might not like where it is but at least buying my own home would be an option. So GW explain again how university achievement and graduate salary works?!?!?

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