Special Report
The London Leadership Forum:
University Challenge

There has been a lively debate over a long period of time as to whether universities are preparing students for the workplace in the best possible fashion. At a leadership forum, held on the 8th of September, Donald Sloan - Head of Oxford Brookes University's Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management - spoke on the challenges and changes that are taking place within universities and the higher education system as a whole.

It was a discussion that raised a number of key questions about where the system is moving, and how it will impact on students, education and society. As Donald noted;

"The higher education sector has witnessed considerable change in recent years. We need to understand this change, embrace it and work through the issues so that all stakeholders gain."

As Donald and the forum discussed the key issues, it became evident clear that the Government’s stated objective that 50% of the adult population should be degree educated, is leading to a large change in the overall dynamic of higher education.

Donald began by asking some very straightforward but fundamental questions about the purpose of higher education, and also discussed how he believed the system was changing and what the future held in store.

"Students have changed. It is very different to past eras when only 10% of school leavers went onto higher education. The 50% target has changed the overall dynamic and the type of person who is a student. There will be significant change in the national educational agenda as a result. We have to consider how this impacts on the system, on students and on our educational priorities.

"At Brookes our aim is to create a learning environment that is academically stimulating, but which also develops an individual’s ability to secure appropriate employment and go on to a successful career."

The key points made by Donald:

• What is the purpose of university?
  • Is it solely to provide a student with an environment that is academically and intellectually stimulating?
  • Should universities be more focused upon developing individual potential?
• What are the two main schools of thought?
• The whole landscape is changing with the Government's ambition of ensuring that 50% of the adult population is educated at university. The argument is that a more knowledgeable and skilled labour force will drive long-term economic prosperity.
• The result is that the motivation of students has changed. Are universities facing up to how best to equip students to find success?

"The key is to ensure that all students are fully engaged in their learning experience. They have to recognise what attributes are required to secure success and be offered exciting opportunities for personal and professional development."

The forum's discussion...

A number of thought-provoking questions were posed by those who attended the leadership forum:

• Given the Government's target of 50% of the adult population possessing degrees, what effect has that had on the curriculum and the output of graduates?
• Is it a problem that students are stimulated and inspired whilst at university and then move into the workplace in junior roles, which are, by their nature, more mundane?/li>
• How do we ensure that students' expectations from work reflect reality.
• What will happen when there are more graduates than jobs?

"A degree should not be regarded as a passport to a good job and successful career. Rather, the process of undertaking a degree should have equipped students with the knowledge and personal attributes that are required by top employers."

Read the full article here...