I was pretty darn tired after another breakfast shift today (morning seriously does not agree with my system), so spent the afternoon led on my bed reading up about the rising University fees that are coming into action from 2012...fun, right?
So, according to the Guardian online, practically every university in the UK is raising their fees to the maximum amount - which is £9,000/yr - despite the government's previous claims that the average fee would be £7,500/yr.
It is practically a given that the prestigious universities on the top of the league table (i.e. Oxbridge, and the red-brick uni's) would charge the highest possible amount, to avoid the fateful label of 'bargain basement' higher education. But it seems that all universities are worried about how the fees they choose will reflect on their reputation as an institute, with uni's from the lower end of the league table also choosing the £9k cap. Which, in return, makes the future education system look pretty bleak.
I feel like I am being wholly hypocritical in saying what I'm about to say...but I'm gonna say it anyway. My degree would definitely meet the criteria of a typical "Mickey mouse" course, and such a course that these fee hikes are the result of.
They are trying to cut down on the numbers of students looking to gain a vocational qualification at degree level, and in consequence of the extortionate fees, I have no doubt that such vocational subjects will be cut from university prospectus' in future - mainly due to insufficient funding, most likely, and waning numbers of students willing to pay such huge amounts of money.
I know for certain that had I been 3 years younger and looking into going to uni bearing in mind the rising fees, I wouldn't have done so. Or, at least, I wouldn't have chosen my current course, because in my opinion my course is definitely not worth even the 'bargainous' three-and-a-bit thousand a year I'm paying for it at the moment. Vocational courses are best learnt 'on the job', rather than at university, because either way you'll never get anywhere without work experience and placements for such courses, disregarding the credibility of a degree completely.
The higher education system seems to be in tatters, or it's definitely heading there. Although I don't in any way agree with the rising course fees, I do think that something needs to change about the university system in the UK. Businesses and work places should offer more to those looking to gain vocational qualifications, whilst universities should focus on promoting those degrees that specifically require a high level of teaching, that can only be given at university standard.
Perhaps, rather ironically, the future of higher education is looking towards the past, where classic research degrees and subjects thrive over other courses. Either way, it won't particularly be affecting me directly so I guess I should be happy to have avoided the whole conundrum. I do really feel sorry for the younger generation though; uni has solely become an issue of money and class. At this rate, our generation will literally be forever in debt.
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