League tables were never designed for the purpose of deciding who deserves a visa & they're certainly not fit for it.
This policy shows the same level of insight about HE that leaving fridge doors open to combat global warming shows about physics.
🧵 1/19
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-616287… Uni league tables do not measure whether someone is a 'top graduate' or not. In fact, one of the rankings the government is proposing to use (ARWU) doesn't even claim to have any measures of teaching, learning or graduate standards.
2/

#THElive session on “reputation”: right from the start some of the circular arguments around the notion of reputation are being uncritically pursued. Reputation drives rankings, ranking drive reputation. Brand drives rep, rep drives brand. Etc... We’ve also heard (I’m paraphrasing) that reputation doesn’t necessarily reflect quality and quality doesn’t necessarily reflect reputation.

Are these kinds of statement not evidence that reputation is a fairly vacuous concept?

Donelan's speech at #THELive this am proclaimed a "revolution" in DfE's approach to #HEaccess.
It certainly will mean radical changes, many of which won't achieve her stated aims (nor even the aims she should have).
Yes, it's a thread of concerns in no particular order.
1/? 1. Access & Participation Plans all need to rewritten.

Outgoing DFAP @Millward_Ch had sensibly extended the time-frame of APPs to enable longer term strategies, because impact often takes time when it comes to access.
/2

#THELIVE kicking off with @michelledonelan announcing “historic” reforms of #HEaccess. They are indeed big, but those of us who work in the field will have deep and well founded concerns. Donelan sets scene for reform: skills shortages, levelling up, fairness, inclusion. The slogan gets its first outing: “it’s not just about getting in, but getting on”.

An excellent session. Many thanks to the experts who shared their insights. Among the many great takeaways, I’ll highlight one from Simon Field who drew from pactice in other countries…

@res_publica @CSkidmoreUK #LifelongEducation

https://twitter.com/res_publica/status/1463123782785286147

@res_publica @CSkidmoreUK To recognise workplace experience of older learners, design a qualification with no course structure, just an assessment. Courses can be self-designed to plug individuals' knowledge/skills gaps. An interesting approach to reskilling challenge.

@ucu and @NEONHE have today published report supporting the proposals to move to a #PQA system for #UniAdmissions.

But are they right? ucu.org.uk/media/11479/PQ…
1/ I almost never disagree with Graeme Atherton on supporting disadvantaged students and @DrJoGrady is fantastic on so many things, but, on this, I think they're wrong...

...unless any shift to PQA is accompanied by a raft of changes & assurances that aren't currently planned.
2/

@michelledonelan appearing before @CommonsEd this morning.

@halfon4harlowMP starts by asking about compensation for students for lost learning under Covid.

Minister confirms no blanket arrangements and pays tribute to unis and their staff who pulled out all the stops. @michelledonelan @CommonsEd @halfon4harlowMP The next question's about antisemitic speaker David Miller being allowed a platform at Bristol Uni – a blind alley for Donelan. She can't condemn the uni and speaker, while maintaining her departmental line about freedom of speech. Her way out is basically to buck-pass to OfS.

Under the circumstances, the Government has adopted what looks like a reasonable approach.

But it does raise a number of questions for higher education institutions.
/1

https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1241006461976752130

Predicted #ALevel grades tend to be inaccurate and have proven to be lower than actual grades for students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and higher than actual for socially advantaged students.
/2

This piece for @HEPI_news by @Cis4Community (Beka Avery, Pathways to HE) is a really excellent dissection of some of the problems with HE outreach and the mismatch of priorities between unis and schools/colleges. hepi.ac.uk/2020/01/02/lif…
1/... @HEPI_news @Cis4Community This is largely down to a lack of joined-up government in DfE over #CareersEducation and #SocialMobility – a failure to think through how conflicting incentives play out in reality.
2/

@seainclusion @Positivteacha There is plenty of research showing a significant earnings premium on average for graduates regardless of background. This is probably the most comprehensive work: ifs.org.uk/publications/8… @seainclusion @Positivteacha @suttontrust has also done many excellent studies on different aspects of this question which is actually a lot more complex than it sounds.

The #AugarReview is out today. I haven’t finished reading it, but here are some first impressions.

There’s much to praise. It’s measured and well argued, but ultimately it won’t solve the problem of post-18 education funding.

A thread... The return of maintenance grants is the biggest positive, intended to end inquity of the poorest students graduating with the highest debts. #AugarReview