Is higher education screwed?

[Jono]

What a fortnight it's been.

Social engineering is to replace stuffy elitist rubbish like "education" as a University's primary reason for being.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8192234.stm

The Tories have pointed out the bleeding obvious; that subjects with historical legitimacy and academic rigour are more highly regarded by universities than an A-Level in Mickey-Mouse studies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8203673.stm

A select committee has pointed out the bleeding obvious; that degree standards are deteriorating, and that studying at Oxbridge is generally better for your career than studying the same degree elsewhere.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8181234.stm

Also, quite an excellent program on yesterday about the lamentable state of funding in higher education.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m0vqz

So, Is higher education screwed? How should H.E. be funded? Are standards slipping? What place does student activism have in all of this?

[d_24]

Aren't all of these just the same old things that have always been regurgitated by desperate journalists as shocking 'new's? I know I've seen all four in various forms before, year after year.

[Hennessy]

Is higher education is screwed?




" R.E.S.T.E.C.P! Do ya even know wha it spellz? "