Key Issues in Higher Education - Essay Example

Key issues in higher education Introduction s of higher learning such as Universities experience externalpressures that influence provision of higher education. They obtain funding from the government, donors, conferences, endowments and student fees. Various factors influence and direct provision of higher education. They include funding, affordability, demographic trends, quality and accountability. Key issues that direct and influence provision of higher education The first factor that influences provision of higher education is funding. Academic institutions can face significant financial challenges. Most institutions even those considered wealthy depend on external funds. The funds are needed for daily operations including paying for institutional staff, infrastructural development and repair as well as for providing research and training grants. The amount of funds available for higher institutions of learning dictates whether education is affordable or not. According to Paulsen and smart (2001), affordability is the ability without any inconveniences to bear certain expenses or the prices of what an individual desires. Unlike the prices of goods and services or even family incomes, the cost for an individual to pursue higher education in the recent years has increased rapidly. However, increase of income is not universal among various groups and the groups whose income stagnates may not be able to afford higher education. Most policy analysts and educators are concern about increase in cost of higher education. More and more low-income students find it difficult to access higher education. Children from low income families and those from the minority groups face greater challenge of inability to access higher education. Studies shows those from humble backgrounds regardless of their qualification have slim chances of joining colleges. This is unlike their peers from wealthy families having similar qualification. According to Heller (2001), the community, the locals and the state has a major role to play in ensuring that those with adequate qualifications do not fail to further their education due to financial barriers. He further stated that the greatest investment in a country is the money spent on education. A democratic community cannot tolerate a society the wealthy only acquire proper education. Second challenge that faces institutions of higher learning is competition for prestigious institutions and talented students. Competition for prestige, top colleges, sponsorship and donations has become part of the academic life for some students. It has also become a significant driver in higher education realms. Students compete for best faculties and research grants. The institutions compete for students, research grants and government funding. Such institutions try to better their facilities such as improved hostels and sports facilities; improved library services; high speed computer networks and improved quality of education. Competition for first class institution of higher learning makes students buyers of education. As a result, students demand that universities provide appropriate curriculum, faculties as well as other campus facilities. The institutions must respond to the needs of its students. For the universities to maintain competitive edge, it must ensure that all students access academic programs they wish to pursue depending on their qualification. In addition, students should receive adequate and appropriate encouragement and support to pursue their higher education. University can deliver its promises if they have adequate funding and support to remain competitive. Thirdly, demographic changes affect the provision of higher education. At the beginning of the century, there were few students in higher institutions of learning. Demographic changes such as dramatic increase in domestic student populations, increased international students, increased diversity, age variations, and student ability as well as interest variations have strained resources and transformed institutions of higher learning into flexible institutions. Demographic changes dictate how the resources are directed and utilized for educational purposes. The fourth is issue that affect provision of higher education include provision of quality education. Institutions issue certificates and degrees of different categories, which show the various levels of learner’s achievement. This helps in measuring the quality of the student’s ability. Most institutions rank their student in different ways. Some uses classes for example 1st class, 2nd class and even 3rd class. Other institutions however, indicate the student’s achievement by use of grades. Colleges and universities must ensure that they provide appropriate, valid and acceptable education to meet set standards and the needs of the people. They need to develop better teaching methods to advance the quality of higher education. The fifth issue that needs to be considered is accountability. Issues of accountability are critical for the development of higher education. Every stakeholder must be accountable in his or her area of operations. The management board of institutions of higher learning must be answerable to their actions and decisions while students and their teachers must work hard to develop knowledge that is useful in world affairs. To ensure existence of accountability, public database should be created. This allows everyone to view statistics and information of a specific college or university and their students. The data to be availed to the public include cost, price, and information on admission as well as college completion rates. In addition, learning outcomes of various students in the institution can be put in the database. This ensures colleges focus in the success of their own students as the information regarding performance will be made public to all parents and even prospective students. The issue of accountability in higher education has two dimensions. First, there is inadequate attention given to learning outcomes assessment, and adjusting teaching as per the assessment conducted. Secondly, there is the general education curriculum which is disconnected. Most professors take the teaching responsibility but do not link what they have taught the student with challenges facing the world. There is need for both students and lecturer to be accountable on learning outcomes. Impact of key issues to provision of higher education First, lack of adequate finances hampers provision of higher education. It has been explained that adequate funding is essential for smooth operations of universities. Baker (2010) claimed that universities will experience massive cuts in funds meant for teaching. This will affect over four million eight hundred thousand students in UK’s institutions of higher learning (Aldrich 2002). In England, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced reduction in education spending by £449 million in 2010/2011 financial year. This has led to baskets of reactions in the country especially on job cuts, increased number of students per class, closure of some courses and denied access to many students. According to Smithers (2005), when funding declines, the institutions of higher learning find it difficult to pay salaries of their teaching and non teaching staff. In addition, thousand of international students on scholarships will miss places in the universities. The chief executive of the funding council, Sir Howard Newby admitted that in order to attain the government target of 50% of young people joining the university by 2010, several numbers of students will have to be enrolled. However, due to funding constraints, admission of several students could result in universities facing financial penalties from HEFCE, or their numbers restricted in the future. He further added that in order to attain the 50% target set by 2010, the growth in the number of additional students in other decades has to be considerable. Sir Howard further adds that uncertainty in the sector has resulted to introduction of£3,000 tuition fees annually (Smithers 2005). Secondly, increased competition discriminates among institutions of higher learning and other students. The population is increasing and those that are sharp and talented get places while the disadvantaged are mainstreamed into normal institutions of learning. Resources may be diverted from other institutions of learning to the few that are considered prestigious. As a result, the students in other institutions of higher learning may not have the opportunity to use state of art facilities for their own good and they may fail to acquire competitive status. Thirdly, demographic changes influence the provision of higher education in the present and future. A dramatic increase or decrease in population structure demand massive shifts in the educational institutions as well as government policy as a whole. Increase in population sizes may demand increase spending on infrastructure to accommodate the increased number of students. Reduction in the number of students may require opening more doors to international students. According to Attwood and Gill (2008), there will be a shortage of 70,000 students in United Kingdom (UK) Universities in 2020 due to the prevailing demographic trends. In Canada, youthful population is declining. Therefore, the need for higher education is also declining. Statistics show that young people between the age of twenty and twenty four may drop by over 6 percent in the next decade. Fourth is the quality. Quality impacts learners in several ways which include: portraying clearly the learning outcomes, enabling learners to achieve better results in the subject matter mastery. This can be measured using formative assessment. Existence of quality in higher learning education increases learner engagement, teaching effectiveness and relevancy in the job market. It also brings about increased learning which is self-directed and enhanced critical thinking. In addition, quality allows the teacher and even the faculty to improve ways of assessing the student learning. Fifth, accountability is important during the provision of higher education. Satisfactory accountability and disclosures attract more funding and more students. In addition, students and their teachers (lecturers/professors) are able to benefit from the learning process because everything will be done accordingly. Through accountability, the learning and skill levels of students are improved and made highly effective. References Aldrich R (2002), Century of Education, Routledge, London. Gorard, S, Adnett, N, May, H Slack, K Smith, E and Thomas, L (2007) Overcoming the barriers to Higher education, Trentham Books Ltd, London. Attwood, R and Gill, J 2008, Student numbers are at risk as UK demographics shift viewed 4 December 2010, . Baker, S 2010, Lord of the market: let competition and choice drive quality, viewed 4 December 2010, . Heller, D 2001, The states and public higher education policy: affordability, access, and accountability, John Hopkins University Press, USA. Paulsen, M & Smart, J 2001, The finance of higher education: theory, research, policy, and practice, Algora Publishing, USA. Smithers, R 2005, Students face stiff competition for university place, viewed 4 December 2010, . Read More