Emerging statistics suggest that
university applications for the forthcoming 2012-2013 academic calendar are
down 10% on the number made for the previous year group.
Without hesitation, one is able
to point blame at the impending introduction of the 9k fees, whose first term
coincides with the prospective intake. The controversial decision to triple the
amount universities are allowed to charge has seen an overwhelming number of
institutions charges of the top level, despite promises that this would only be
permitted in rare circumstances.
Of course, there was no method by
which to implement an effective graded scale of pay across universities: as
more money raised at any one institution elevates it significantly above its
competitors in dispensable income and no faculty would want to suffer as a
consequence.
Indeed, chair of the UCU
lecturers’ union, Sally Hunt, advocated that “The government's fees policy has
been a disaster from the start and it is clearly having a serious impact on the
choices young people make.”
Levying the fees in such an
unprecedented fashion makes a great many potential applicants look twice at
their future prospects.
Consequently, the current trend
of a 10% decrease in uptake can come as no real surprise, but an affirmation
that the domain of academia could ocne again slowly become the reserve of the
rich and priviledged.
Whilst deadlines for the vast
majority of applications is not until January 2012, these early figures fo
provide a forecasted outlook. UCAS admissions services monitors the activity
and is set to give updates should there be any significant changes as have so
far been seen.
Overall, there has been a 9%
reduction in comparison to this time last year; but this figure adds a third
when considering just UK students, with a 12% decrease at present.
Universities UK however has
warned these are not necessarily the figures that will be seen come the New
Year, since Oxbridge has witnessed only a 0.8% fall in hopeful students.
However, this could in fact be
testament to the social demographic which chooses the elite pair amongst their
five choices. Whilst the two oldest institutions have claimed to be making
headway in ensuring equal accessibility opportunities over the past years,
there is no doubt that this has caused a great deal of unrest with a number of
staff, who have publically stated their grievances.
Could the small drop actually be
reflective of the number of wealthier families that still plague the hallways
of the revered grounds? Moreover, there is suggestion that since these numbers
are not broken down for comparison of social area, there could indeed have been
a reduction in state school hopefuls and a surge in private interest with the
prospect of fewer places awarded to their mainstream counterparts.
 |
| A recent Guardian article review a similar issue and looked both at social economic and social ethnicity factors at Oxbridge. |
As such, the discrepancy between
Oxbridge figures and those on a nationwide level leave a great deal to ponder
on.
Despite being against the rise in
fees, this downturn in possible students gives rise to a number of unforeseen
potential circumstances that may help in the long-run.
For example, in the midst of a
global economic crisis, the streamlining of university functions is essential.
In changing the number of students applying year on year, the colleges would be
able to ensure lower costs and lower state dependencies, whilst producing
graduates and continued research.
Furthermore, the job market is
currently saturated with graduates who all boast a degree at a top ranking
university in their field. Already, the worth and merit of study is
deteriorating and ensuring that an undergraduate diploma is essentially of
little consequence. To limit the number of persons who continually apply with
such qualifications will allow a greater percentage of university leavers to
find employ in their chosen area (should the financial troubles subside and
growth resume).
In addition, many who would have
gone to university simply because their friends, relatives or pets were
applying will now reconsider. Perhaps this will give a boost to apprenticeships
and skilled trades who often lost out to the luring prospects of University.
Perhaps this will see a unique boom in industry that, if sustained correctly,
would produce economic benefits.
This is not to campaign for or
provide a late exoneration of the government policy however. Restricting the
paths of a number of citizens is quite potentially the equivalent of a 21st
century disenfranchisement. Abusing students as a scapegoat for market
difficulties only emphasises the moral bankruptcy of the government in addition
to their financial bankruptcy.
Come January, a clearer picture
of numbers and their heritages will emerge: but until then, the dream of
graduation appears slimmer for a large number, who will have to consider
alternative outlets, while oppressed by high inflation, stagnant job
opportunities and now elitist education academies.
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