More Clearing Places than Ever! (Old vs New Universities...)

Member Name: scottish20

Product:	Old vs New Universities...
Date:	19/08/01 (161 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: argued in text

Disadvantages: argued in text

The Sunday Times published the clearing lists 'at a glance' this morning - and there are hundreds of places! For the first time ever, Universities such as Durham are offering places through clearing - and in subjects such as geography, which are ranked 'excellant' at this particular institution.

The reason for this increase in clearing places, I feel, is due to the ever increasing number of 'New Universities'. These universities are generally polytechnic colleges upgraded to University status. Fair enough, good for them. I'm all for encouraging Higher Education but it seems there are too many places available. I once read in the Times, that some Universities were being forced to accept students with D passes at A Level just so they had enough government funding for many departments to survive. Surely this detracts from the prestige of a University degree?

Don't get me wrong, I think New Universities are great for subjects in the fields of Design, Tourism etc., that are not offered at the other Unis. But I think the entry requirements should be such that not every Tom, Dick and Harry is going to gain a place. I think that this generates a lazy attitude to school and exams - I had friends who completed 6th Year as a matter of course, sat the exams but didn't particularly work hard or worry since a place at the University of Paisley was almost guaranteed. I'm not trying to say that only students with 5 A's should be allowed to go to Uni, but at least make a Uni place something to be proud of.

Now, back to clearing. It's a great system if you do make a mess of your exams - especially for the English and Welsh students how can't easily resit A levels and the appeal system isn't so readily used. However, there are so many places up for grabs this year simply because there are too many Universities! I really think that some of these New Universities, the ones struggling to fill p
laces, should return to their College status, offer foundation course as a stepping stone to University and therefore increase the competiton for Uni places and also porvide an alternative route to a degree for those students who really didn't do so well in their A levels.

Having said all that, New Universities such as Nottingham Trent (with incredibly high Graduate employment) and Northumbria (ranked top of the New University tables) have worked hard and really deserve their University status. But I'm sure their entry requirements reflect this.

I think that every student should get the oppportunity to further their education and experience university or College life but not at the expense of lowering the value of a degree. More students than ever are going to University which is brilliant, but there needs to be a line drawn somewhere. A degree should be hard work and an achievement to be proud of, not just an ineviatable path following school.

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