Call to business after University of Kent announced fees hike to £9,000

nova wrote:

Ruth Sri-Od,
You may have a doctorate in Chemical Engineering, but you cannot spell! At least students on an English degree (that you seem to frown upon) will be able to spell correctly. That will stand them in good stead.

08 Apr 2011 3:51 PM

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Tax Payer wrote:

Good so they should pay full amount. Should be a bit more

05 Apr 2011 8:22 PM

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Mark Wall wrote:

Part of the problem faced by universities that are not in the Russell group is the fact that if they charge less they are seen to be second rate.

It is silly but university boards around the coutry are face with the dilemma of cheap and nasty or 'gosh if they charge £9000.00 they must be good'.

I swing on this matter. On one hand I see a user pays senario as being correct and right. If I cannot affod a big Merc they i do not get one, I drive a more modest car.

While on the other hand I see the value to the community of inclusion of all that have the talent to excel.

Perhaps therein is the problem. University is no longer about higher (further) education to those that have a talent to succeed or add value or knowledge to a field. For many it seems to be something you do between school and finding a job. A ritual of sex, drugs and protesting.

What about a system where the top (brightest) 50% get their fees refunded (or have no loan) and the rest pay a reasonable fee. At least that way those that have ability will get the education they deserve and the rest .... well thry pay to enjoy the expirence.

04 Apr 2011 10:46 PM

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Ruth Sri-Od wrote:

Education, Education, and yet more degraded Education!!
(Yes I did also post on the main Kent Online Site as well, so please don't have a go at me?)

Yes wasn't that a wonderful mantra under the last lot of imbecilic social engineers? Oops, sorry I meant Government. The god given right that everyone from the middle classes (however the British wish to define this?) could have a degree regardless of how academically or intellectually gifted they were(or not) Going to university in the UK now seems not to be because someone has excelled at their studies, by dint of really hard work. It's like it's a rite of passage and an
entitlement for more affluent families. It's not. If you want to study then in this era of a cash strapped economy then (When you'll have a much higher lifetime earning potential?) then it's only fair to contribute at a much latter date if you fulfil that academedic or earning potential.

I'm not saying that I'm in whole hearted agreement with the huge sum of £9000 either because The University of Kent is nowhwere in the same league as Oxbridge or say American "Ivy League" institutions. Its
a fairly mediocre "Silo Uni" like what you find all over the States, and I think that the Vice Chancellor who I believe was instrumental in
campaigning for this increase is suffering from delusions of grandeur.

I think there is far too much deadwood with degree's. The only part of Canterbury Unversity that I have any real time or sympathy for is the Sciences Faculty.

Social Sciences and Humanities, sorry these sort of degree's are just fripperies and not "sciences". We need scientists and engineers not social scientests and social engineers. Why? pray, has a social worker the need for a degree level qualification? On a good day I would say the only level of qualification needed is say a Higher National Certificate and on a bad day common sense. Which I believe you can't award a degree for? The equvalence of different degrees in the UK fascinates me, how do you equate a doctor with say the aforementioned?
There are far too many "D @ ick #head Degrees" and an academic industry that up and until now has fostered this silly culture of "degrees for all" I remember a few years back hearing of a masters dissertation on the study of "Mantlepieces" I believe these are the shelf over an english fireplace? What on earth is this higher degree
for and what's it's relavence in the workplace?

I think that courses like Science, Engineering and Medicine/Nursing should have a lot more cudos and recognition because of the immense
tangible benefit to society as a whole. By this more able students should be encouraged by the incentive of reduced fees or bursaries.

However,

The "talking professions" and this can encompass a wide spectrum of degrees. From say. Law, Theology, Humanities, Social and Political Science and Psychology. Not to mention stuff like Arts based degrees
(But I won't go there) Well, if people want to study them thats fine but should be expected to pay a hefty premium. Mediocre degrees for mediocre minds.

Why should a hardworking working class taxpayer (I count myself in this catagory) have to bail out a large amount overindulged and
bird brained middle class types that think that because qualifications have been degraded that easy degrees are a right?

I've got a doctorate in chemical engineering. As a mature student and mother, I recieved no help or funding at all, I worked all hours under
the sun and have also bought up a family as well whilst studying and working. Yes I did go on the students march in London to protest about this as well.

04 Apr 2011 2:24 PM

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